Former Hamas hostage warned Australian leaders months before Bondi Beach shooting
Eli Sharabi says he warned Australian officials in June that antisemitism could escalate into a hate crime, months before the Bondi Beach attack.
A former Hamas hostage says he warned Australian leaders about rising antisemitism months before the Bondi Beach attack. Eli Sharabi, who spent 491 days in captivity in Gaza, told Fox News Digital that during a June visit to Australia he met with Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles and Foreign Minister Penny Wong and urged them to speak out against antisemitism before it escalated.
Sharabi recalled telling the officials that a hate crime would occur in Australia and that he would "see the fears" of Jewish people walking on the streets, urging them to take a stronger voice against antisemitism before it was too late.
A Wong spokesperson said that "Minister Wong has consistently condemned antisemitism and antisemitic attacks," and that in response to the Bondi attack, Australia is strengthening laws against antisemitism and online abuse, ensuring the education system properly responds to antisemitism, and lowering the threshold to cancel visas for those who come to Australia to spread antisemitism. The spokesperson also conveyed Wong's sympathies to the loved ones of the Bondi Beach shooting victims.
Sharabi, who was released on February 8, 2025, after 491 days in Hamas captivity, called the Bondi Beach attack "crazy," but said it was not unpredictable. He described Bondi's Hanukkah celebration tragedy in the context of the persecution of European Jews in the 1940s and noted it reminded him of those times. Sharabi learned after his release that his wife, Lianne, and their daughters, Noiya and Yahel, had been killed when Hamas terrorists attacked Israel.
Since his release, Sharabi has traveled the world speaking to Jewish communities and world leaders about his experience, and he published a book, "Hostage," which has been translated into multiple languages. He told Fox News Digital that the attack has strengthened his resolve to advocate for the release of all hostages, including Alon Ohel, with whom he formed a bond during captivity. He said that when he was hospitalized after the rescue, he learned about the global effort to secure his freedom and that of others.
He described his post-release life as a constant balance between grief and gratitude. "First of all, I’m alive. Second, I’m free, and I’ve learned that freedom is priceless," he said. "The memory of my wife, my daughters and my brother will be with me until my last day."
Sharabi said that during captivity he promised himself to move his family to London for safety, but his plans have since changed. He envisages a quieter life and a fresh start a bit north of Be’eri in central Israel, noting that returning to Be’eri is not an option while he continues to heal with his therapist. He added that he will seek a new place to live and a way to rebuild his life as he awaits the return of Ran Gvili, the last remaining hostage in Gaza.
The Bondi Beach attack, which targeted a Hanukkah celebration, left at least 15 people dead and dozens injured, according to authorities. Sharabi said the incident underscores the fragility of safety for Jewish communities worldwide and reinforced his belief that antisemitism must be confronted at every level and across borders.
Fox News Digital reached out to Marles’ office for comment. In Australia, the case has fed a broader debate about antisemitism and the measures needed to curb hate speech and hate crimes. The government has emphasized ongoing efforts to strengthen laws, education, and enforcement related to antisemitism and online abuse, while expressing condolences to victims’ families and support for those affected by the attacks.