Fiona Lamdin - Social Affairs Correspondent and Leigh Boobyer - BBC News, Bristol

An Israeli hostage freed from Gaza did not know his wife and daughters were killed in the 7 October attack, his British family said.

Eli Sharabi was taken by Hamas 16 months ago and released on Saturday in Deir al-Balah, in Gaza.

His wife Lianne Sharabi, who was from Bristol, and daughters Noiya and Yahel were found murdered in their safe house "cuddled together" in 2023.

Lianne's parents Gill and Pete Brisley told the BBC an Israeli Defences Forces soldier told Mr Sharabi about what happened to his family when he was freed.

The couple said he was "lucid" and his "voice a bit husky" when they spoke on a video call.

"He got choked up a couple of times but managed a small smile for us. Such a brave man," said the couple who are due to fly out to see him soon.

Mr Sharabi was one of three hostages handed to the Red Cross by Hamas in a negotiated release.

Hundreds of miles away in south Wales, Mr and Mrs Brisley said they cried watching his release on a livestream.

They said Mr Sharabi's face looked "gaunt".

Mr Brisley said it left them "a bit wobbly" and it was a "very emotional morning".

He said: "When we saw Eli it was to see the emaciated state that they've put him in.

"Eli's got quite a chubby face normally. You see the film of him with hollow eyes, sunken cheeks and his wrists were sticks."

Mrs Brisley said: "Seeing Eli come out now, it brought everything back. [We] sat and bawled our eyes out.

"I was sitting there cuddling Lianne's teddy bear. I think I made him wet actually. It reminded us of what we lost."

"The only thing that keeps us going is the fact we know Eli is back. At least there's one member of our very close family that is still alive," Mrs Brisley said.

"[We're] grateful to him for our two beautiful granddaughters, didn't have them for long enough. We need now to concentrate on all of the happy times.

"So we live in our memories, that's all we can do. Think about them, talk about them, and make sure nobody forgets them."

Mr Brisley said: "We hope to be a part of getting him back to some sort of normal."