Gaza hostage release 'a bittersweet moment'

Gill and Peter Brisley said seeing the release of hostages was "bittersweet"

A British couple whose daughter and two granddaughters were killed by Hamas in the 7 October attacks on Israel said seeing Monday's mass release of hostages was "bittersweet".

Gill and Pete Brisley's son-in-law Eli Sharabi was released by Hamas in February after 491 days in captivity.

But the family, originally from Bristol but now living in Bridgend in Wales, are still waiting for the release of the body of Mr Sharabi's brother Yossi who was killed in captivity in January 2024.

Speaking to BBC Radio Five Live, Mr Sharabi said when his brother was buried and the family had a grave to grieve over, they could start to "heal".

The Brisley's daughter Lianne Sharabi, 48, and granddaughters Yahel, 13, and Noiya, 16, were killed in the attack in Kibbutz Be'eri on 7 October 2023, and Mr Sharabi and Yossi taken hostage.

Mr Sharabi, said while he was "very very happy" the war was coming to an end and the 20 remaining living hostages had been released, it was "very very sad" his brother was one of those who had not survived captivity.

Mr Sharabi said he and his family would soon be able to bury his brother and "have a grave to cry on".

"We will start to heal from now on," he added.

Eli Sharabi was released by Hamas in February after 491 days in captivity

Mr and Mrs Brisley said Eli had told them he was particularly looking forward to seeing Alon Ohel - a 24-year-old who was captured by Hamas at the Nova music festival - as the two had spent much of their time in captivity together in tunnels under Gaza.

She said Eli had become a "surrogate father" to Mr Ohel and had spent his last week in captivity giving him the "tools to be able to cope until it was his turn".

Mrs Brisley said it was important for the family to bury Yossi and have a place they can visit.

The couple said they have visited their daughter and granddaughters' grave in Israel a few times, always taking a beer to share with Lianne.

"We drink half of it and we pour the other half round her [Lianne's] grave."

Eli Sharabi found out both his daughters and wife were dead when he was released

Mr and Mrs Brisley said seeing Monday's celebrations in Israel took them back to their son-in-law's release.

"We were the first people he called," said Mrs Brisley.

"The first words he said were 'I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry' because he wasn't there to protect his girls," added Mrs Brisley.

The family flew out to see him five days after his February release, on a flight they had originally booked to celebrate Lianne's 50th birthday.

"We just hugged a bag of bones. It was a shock to see him," added Mrs Brisley.

Lianne Sharabi was killed alongside her daughters Yahel (L) and Noiya (R)

Speaking about his own experience, Mr Sharabi said his release was a "very unimaginable moment" especially as that was when he heard about the death of Lianne and their two daughters for the first time.

"There is nothing I can do to bring them back. I only can do things that will honour them and that's what I've been doing," he said.

Mr Sharabi said he was still recovering physically and mentally from his time in captivity, experiences he has since shared in a book he has written called 'Hostage'.

His advice for those released this week was to give themselves time to "process and adjust".

"Their families need to protect them, hug them and be there for them. It will take time until they feel secure and start to heal from their trauma," he said.

Mr and Mrs Brisley said that while this week's events were a "chapter closed", that their enduring loss remains.

"We're still without our girls," they added.