Credit: IDF
This week, Hamas returned the bodies of nine hostages to Israel, including Portuguese-Israeli Yossi Sharabi, 53. The return of the bodies follows an agreement that called for the delivery of 28 hostages on Monday, October 13, but only four were handed over on that date, followed by five more later. Nineteen bodies remain held in Gaza.
Yossi Sharabi, a descendant of a Moroccan family, was kidnapped from his home in Kibbutz Be’eri, where he had been hiding with his family in a bunker during the attack. He, his daughter’s boyfriend, and a neighbor were taken to Gaza; the latter two were released in November 2023. Separately, Yossi’s brother, Eli Sharabi, was also kidnapped and later freed in February 2025..
It is believed that Yossi died in January 2024. He leaves behind his wife and three daughters.
The brothers Yossi and Eli Sharabi.
During captivity, Yossi was alongside with the hostage Noa Argamani, who shared an emotional message on social media:
"I was privileged to know an amazing person and to be with him even in his last moments, now his body has finally returned to Israeli territory.
During our shared stay in captivity, I got to know an amazing person, full of nobility and humility, a person of truth and unity.
I learned a lot from you during this period and every day I was surprised to discover how many character traits and hobbies we both have in common despite the age gap.
Thank you for taking care of me and being by my side all along, for supporting me, for listening to me and even for making me smile even during difficult times. You will always be a part of me in every erradostep I take.
Now you can finally bi buried properly in the State of Israel, now the Sharabi family can close the circle. I'm sorry I couldn't save you."
Among the 19 bodies still remaining in Gaza that are expected to be returned to Israel, two are Portuguese-Israeli hostages: Ran Gvili, 26, and Dror Or Ermoza, 48.
