By admin 
Eli Sharabi, an Israeli hostage recently freed after 16 months in captivity, has been invited to meet former U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington this week, his brother confirmed to Israeli media.
Sharabi is expected to meet Trump on Tuesday, along with other former hostages, following Trump’s reaction to his emotional television interview about the brutal conditions he endured in captivity. Excerpts of the interview, aired on Israel’s Channel 12 with English subtitles, were shown to Trump, who was reportedly deeply moved by Sharabi’s testimony.
Sharabi was kidnapped from his home in Be’eri Kibbutz during the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023. His wife and two teenage daughters were killed in the assault. In his interview, he described the extreme hunger, violence, and physical restraints he suffered while in captivity, recalling the pain of being tied up so tightly that the ropes cut into his flesh.
His brother, Sharon Sharabi, revealed that Eli would be flying to the U.S. on a private plane provided by Miriam Adelson, the widow of casino magnate Sheldon Adelson and a major Trump supporter. He stated that the meeting with Trump would focus on the urgency of ongoing efforts to secure the release of other hostages still held in Gaza.
Meanwhile, the U.S. government has reaffirmed its support for Israel amid the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The Biden administration recently approved a nearly $3 billion arms sale to Israel, bypassing congressional review, while also endorsing Israel’s decision to restrict humanitarian aid to Gaza.
In Tel Aviv, families of hostages still held in Gaza staged demonstrations on Sunday, urging the Israeli government to uphold the ceasefire deal and secure the safe return of their loved ones.
Gill Bikram Singh