PM Netanyahu speaks with former Israeli hostage Eli Sharabi, expresses regret over delay in his release

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke with recently freed Israeli hostage Eli Sharabi a day before his scheduled meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday. Sharabi will be joined in Washington D.C. by several other former hostages, including Omer Shem Tov, Iair Horn, Keith and Aviva Siegel, Doron Steinbacher, and Naama Levy.

The visit, organized by the Hostage Families Forum and Hostage Aid Worldwide, comes as Netanyahu emphasized the urgency of securing the release of all remaining hostages and expressed regret for not reaching out to Sharabi sooner.

"I’m sorry it took us so long," Netanyahu told Sharabi, assuring him of the government’s efforts to secure his release. Sharabi responded: "The other hostages must urgently be brought home."

Netanyahu shared that he had tried to coordinate a call with Sharabi 10 days prior but was unsuccessful in connecting with him.  

“I welcome your return home," Netanyahu said. "I know that you are enduring difficult days. My wife and I would like to console you on your terrible loss – of Lianne, Noiya and Yahel, and your brother Yossi. I understand the magnitude of the loss; this is awful.”

“I want you to know that I regret that it took us such a long time. We fought hard to get you out; your brother and the entire family fought hard. Sharon was in close contact with me the entire time." Netanyahu said.

Sharabi expressed that, while he is happy to be home and reunited with his family, the fight is not over – and that Israel must see the return of the rest of the hostages, living and dead.

"I am very happy to be home and be reunited with my family. The other hostages, certainly the living, urgently need to return home to their families. And of course, the deceased hostages, including my brother Yossi, must be brought back for burial in Israel so their families can cry over their graves.”

Netanyahu assured Sharabi that this desire is the goal of the government and what they are striving to achieve and that they “will not relent for a moment...even as I am speaking to you.”

The freed hostages plan to express their gratitude to the Trump administration for its unwavering support and commitment in securing their release. They will share firsthand experiences from their time in captivity, including what it was like being held in Hamas tunnels in Gaza.

The Hostage Families Forum stated, “U.S. officials will hear directly about the urgency of bringing all hostages home immediately and in one coordinated effort."

Ynet News reported that, in an interview with Eli Sharabi’s sister, Osnat Sharabi-Matalon, her brother was surprised by the outpouring of support following his interview on the Israeli television program "Uvda."

"Our family, on the other hand, is not surprised. We’ve been living with this for a year and a half and understand the magnitude of the situation," she said.

Sharabi-Matalon stressed her overwhelming concern for the other hostages still in captivity. "He will definitely bring up his brother, who’s still there, and our fear that if we wait too long, we won’t find him – or the bodies of the 34 other killed hostages."