The harrowing events of October 7 continue to cast a shadow over countless lives as the stories of those taken hostage by Hamas emerge. Each narrative sheds light on the personal anguish experienced by individuals and their families, underscoring the profound impact of this ongoing crisis.
Alex Danzig and Itzhak Elgarat: Alex Danzig, known for his decades of educating about the Holocaust, was among those kidnapped. Itzhak Elgarat, 68, was taken at the same time. According to his brother Danny, he had tracked Itzhak’s phone to the Gaza border before losing contact. The fate of Alex and Itzhak remains uncertain as their families continue to seek answers.
Gadi Moses and Efrat Katz: Gadi Moses, 79, an agricultural expert, was abducted from Nir Oz. The Israeli aid agency where he worked confirmed his kidnapping. Tragically, his partner Efrat Katz was initially believed to have been captured but was later found dead. The loss of Efrat, who was the mother of Doron Asher, further complicates the family’s suffering. Doron and her daughters were eventually released, but Ravid Katz, Doron’s brother, was confirmed dead on November 28.
Tsachi Idan and Family: Tsachi Idan, 51, was last seen being taken by Hamas gunmen from his family’s safe room in Nahal Oz. Their ordeal was live-streamed, showing the violent attack and the tragic death of their eldest child, Maayan, who had just turned 18. The trauma experienced by Tsachi’s family highlights the brutal reality of the attack
Yarden Bibas and Family: Yarden Bibas, 34, was kidnapped from Nir Oz along with his wife Shiri and their children Ariel and Kfir. On November 29, Hamas claimed the family had been killed in an Israeli airstrike, though the Israeli government is still verifying this claim.
Ronen Engel and Family: Ronen Engel, 54, was taken from Nir Oz with his wife Karina and their daughters Mika and Yuval. While Karina, Mika, and Yuval were released on November 27, Ronen was reported dead on December 1. The family’s suffering underscores the high human toll of the conflict.
Karina Ariev: A 19-year-old soldier, Karina Ariev was taken from a military base near Gaza. Her family has shared distressing details of her abduction, including a video showing her being taken away in a vehicle, further illustrating the personal impact of the attacks.
Ofer Kalderon: Ofer Kalderon, 53, was abducted from Nir Oz. His children, Erez and Sahar, were released on November 27, but two other relatives, Carmela Dan and her granddaughter Noya, were later confirmed dead.
Omri Miran: Omri Miran, 46, was captured after his family opened their shelter to an Israeli child seeking refuge. His abduction, witnessed by his wife Lishay, highlights the desperate measures taken during the attack.
Liri Elbag: Liri Elbag, 18, was a newly trained Army lookout when she was captured. Her father, Eli, saw her in a video with other hostages, illustrating the personal tragedy faced by young soldiers caught in the conflict.
Alexander Lobanov: Among those abducted from the Supernova music festival was Alexander Lobanov, 32, a Russian-Israeli citizen. His kidnapping adds to the list of civilians affected by the violence.
The Supernova music festival in southern Israel, which should have been a celebration of life and music, turned into a scene of unimaginable horror on October 7. The abduction of festival-goers has left numerous families grappling with grief and uncertainty. Here are some of the poignant stories of those taken and the circumstances surrounding their disappearances.
Ori Danino: Ori Danino, 25, initially escaped the festival in his car. However, he turned back in a brave attempt to save others he had met there, only to be captured. His courageous act highlights the selflessness of those caught in such dire situations.
Almog Sarusi: Almog Sarusi, 26, was abducted from the festival while his partner, Shahar Gindi, was killed. Almog’s father, Yigal, has been actively involved in seeking justice and meeting with Israel’s leaders to address the crisis.
Omer Shem Tov: Omer Shem Tov, 21, was running from gunfire and managed to get into a friend’s car. Despite his efforts to escape, his last known location showed him beyond the Gaza border, leaving his family in anguish over his fate.
Idan Shtivi: Idan Shtivi, 28, an environmental sciences student, was at the festival to capture moments from various workshops. Though he escaped in his car, he was attacked en route. The bodies of two passengers were found, and his family fears he was kidnapped.
Yosef Ohana: Yosef Ohana, 24, was helping others escape the gunfire with a friend when they decided to run. Last seen hiding under a car, Yosef’s family has been informed by Israeli authorities of his abduction.
Avinatan Or and Noa Argamani: Avinatan Or, 30, appeared in a video being marched away from his girlfriend, Noa Argamani. While Avinatan remains missing, Noa was rescued from Gaza on June 8, offering a glimmer of hope amidst the tragedy.
Eden Yerushalmi: Eden Yerushalmi, 24, called her family during the attack. The IDF later confirmed her abduction, adding to the long list of those still unaccounted for.
Guy Gilboa-Dalal: Guy Gilboa-Dalal, 22, was seen in a hostage video, confirming his presence in Gaza. His family remains deeply concerned for his safety.
Eitan Mor: Eitan Mor, 23, was working as a security guard at the festival. After texting his uncle during the attack, he was last seen helping others to safety before going missing.
Alon Ohel: Alon Ohel, 22, a Serbian citizen, was dragged away after a grenade attack. His family has seen footage of his capture, intensifying their worry.
Maxim Kharkin: Maxim Kharkin, 35, a Russian speaker, called his mother early on the morning of the attack. His current status remains unknown, adding to the uncertainty surrounding the hostages.
Hersh Goldberg-Polin: Hersh Goldberg-Polin, 23, a dual US-Israeli citizen, was severely injured during the attack. Witnesses saw him being forced onto a truck, and his last phone signal came from inside Gaza.
Segev Kalfon: Segev Kalfon, 26, was captured while fleeing the festival across the highway. His abduction is another distressing case in the broader crisis.
Romi Lesham Gonen: Romi Lesham Gonen, 23, was on the phone with her mother as she attempted to escape. Her desperate plea for help and the subsequent confirmation that her phone is in Gaza reflect the tragic reality faced by many.
Bar Kuperstein, 21, last contacted his family early on the morning of October 7 as the attack was underway. Later that day, his family reportedly identified him in a video of Israeli prisoners posted by Hamas. Since then, they have not received any further updates.
Eliya Cohen, 26, was hiding with his girlfriend Ziv during the attack when she felt him being taken away by the gunmen, according to Eliya’s mother in a report by the video initiative #BringThemHomeNow. The family later discovered a photo of Eliya in Gaza, as reported by the Times of Israel.
Elkana Bohbot, 34, had attended the party with friends and, before losing contact, informed his wife and mother that he was helping to evacuate the wounded, according to the Times of Israel. Hours later, his family found a video of him posted online by Hamas, which has been verified by BBC.
Rom Braslavski, 19, was working security at the festival. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum reported that he was attempting to rescue an injured person when he was caught in crossfire. He has not been heard from since.
Omer Wenkert, 22, a restaurant manager, sent a message to his family indicating he was heading to a safe shelter but then lost contact. His father, Shai Wenkert, told the BBC’s Today Programme that he had seen footage of his son in captivity, including a photo of him handcuffed and in only underwear.
Evyatar David, 23, was at the festival on the morning of the attacks and was described as fleeing from gunfire before losing contact. His family later received a video of him in captivity.
Tal Shoham, 38, was abducted from Kibbutz Be’eri. His wife Adi, also 38, her mother Dr. Shoshan Haran, 67, and the couple’s children Nave, 8, and Yahel, 3, were released by Hamas on November 25. Dr. Haran’s husband, Avshalom, an economist with dual German and Israeli citizenship, was killed on October 7.
Sagui Dekel-Chen, 35, an American-Israeli citizen, has been missing since Hamas’s attack on Nir Oz. His father Jonathan told the BBC that Sagui was not among the deceased and believes he was taken to Gaza.
The Thai government has reported that six of its citizens are still held hostage in Gaza. One of them is believed to be Watchara Sriuan, 32. His mother, Viewwaew, informed the Thaiger news site that the family had been notified of his captivity.
Several hostages who were believed to be alive have been confirmed dead. On August 8, the IDF announced that the bodies of Abraham Munder, Alex Dancyg, Yagev Buchshtab, Chaim Peri, Yoram Metzger, and Nadav Popplewell, who died in Hamas captivity, were recovered from Gaza and returned to Israel.
Previously, on June 3, the IDF had informed the families of Amiram Cooper, Chaim Peri, Yoram Metzger, and Nadav Popplewell that they were deceased and their bodies were held by Hamas. Additionally, IDF soldier Itay Chen, 19, a dual US-Israeli citizen, was initially thought to be a hostage but was actually killed in the October 7 attacks.
Israeli authorities have confirmed that Lior Rudaeff, 61, from Kibbutz Nir Yitzhak, was murdered on October 7, and his body was taken to Gaza. Elyakim Libman, 24, a security guard at the Nova music festival, was also murdered on October 7. Both were previously reported as hostages. On May 24, the IDF reported the recovery of three other hostages’ bodies: Orion Hernandez, 30, Chanan Yablonka, 42, and Michel Nisenbaum, 59.
In May, several other hostages’ bodies were identified, including Shani Louk, 23, Amit Buskila, 27, Itzhak Gelerenter, 58, and Ron Benjamin, 53. On May 16, the families of two Thai hostages, Sonthaya Oakkharasr and Sudthisak Rinthalak, were informed that they had been killed in the October 7 attack, and their bodies were being held by Hamas in Gaza.
Additional confirmed fatalities are Gadi Haggai, Ron Scherman, Nik Beizer, Tal Chaimi (41, Israeli-Romanian), Joshua Mollel (19, Tanzanian student), Eden Zecharya (27), and Ziv Dado (36). Other confirmed victims include Jonathan Samerano, 21; Sahar Baruch, 25; Dror Kaplun, 68; Aviv Atzili, 49; Arye Zalmanovich, 85; Ronen Engel, 54; Maya Goren, 56; Guy Iluz, 26; Ofir Tzarfati, 27; Ofra Keider, 70; and Eliyahu Margalit, 75.
The bodies of 19-year-old soldier Noa Marciano and 65-year-old Yehudit Weiss were found by Israeli troops near Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City. In March, the family of Uriel Baruch, 35, was informed by the IDF that he was killed in the October 7 attack on the Nova music festival, and his body was being held in Gaza. Uriel was married with two children.
The Hostages and Missing Persons Families Forum announced the death of Tamir Adar, 38, on January 5, followed by news of Yossi Sharabi and Itay Svirsky also being deceased. On December 16, the Israeli military expressed regret after mistakenly killing three hostages—Yotam Haim, 28; Samer Talalka, 22; and Alon Shamriz, 26—in northern Gaza. In December, the death of Inbar Heiman, a student taken from the Nova music festival, was also confirmed.
Hostages whose deaths have been reported but not confirmed include Shiri Bibas, 32, and her young children Ariel and Kfir.
Tags: October 7 attacks, hostages, Hamas, Israel, Gaza, Middle East conflict, personal stories, human rights, abduction, international crisis
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