Itzhak Elgarat has been confirmed as one of the four slain hostages that were released by Hamas on Wednesday night, Israeli media announced, citing Kibbutz Nir Oz on Thursday morning.
"We announce with deep sorrow the murder of Itzhak Elgert, who was kidnapped from his home on the kibbutz on Saturday, October 7, and murdered in captivity in Gaza," Kibbutz Nir Oz announced. "Itzhak, who was kidnapped at the age of 68, came to Nir Oz following his brother and beloved friend in the community. For years, he served the kibbutz with dedication as a groundskeeper and was responsible for plumbing, gas, and stream work.
"He was an integral part of the social scene, loved to hang out at the local pub, host friends, and connect generations. His great love of soccer and backgammon was a household name, and he starred in local games, always with a smile and good spirit.
"Itzhak left behind two children, a brother and two sisters. We will remember him for his laughter, his huge heart and his willingness to always be there for anyone in need."
Elgarat, aged 69, was abducted from his home in Kibbutz Nir Oz by Hamas terrorists on October 7. He called his younger brother at approximately 11:30 a.m. on October 7, telling him that his hand had been badly injured as he rushed to close the door to the safe room.
“I could hear that he was very stressed, on the verge of tears,” Dany previously told The Jerusalem Post. “He told me that his hand was badly hurt, that it was crushed when he tried to close the door to his safe room.”
“He didn’t realize what situation he was in until then,” he said.
Elgarat tried to coach his brother to make a tourniquet for his hand, but soon heard sounds of gunfire and shouting. “Itzik screamed into the phone, ‘Dany, it’s over. Dany, it’s over.’ and the call went dead,” he described.
Elgarat tried to reach his niece’s husband, who also lives on the kibbutz. “He told me, ‘Danny, they have thrown four grenades at me. I killed a terrorist in my living room. Whoever goes outside dies.’
“That is when I realized that this was an attack on the kibbutz like what I had seen that morning in Sderot and Netiv Ha’asara. I just couldn’t believe that the whole Gaza border area was conquered and attacked.”
Elgarat tried to use police connections to send his brother help, but to no avail. He later tracked his brother’s phone and saw that it had entered Gaza an hour after the two had spoken.
During the first release of Gaza hostage in November 2023, Elgarat was told by freed hostages that his brother had been treated at Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis before being taken to the tunnels. In March, Hamas released a video claiming that seven hostages had been killed by an IDF bombardment, including Itzhak.
'I failed'
Dany posted a poem he wrote titled 'I failed' on Facebook just before his brother's body was returned to Israel.
"You were sacrificed on a political altar," Dany wrote, "They 'completely defeated' me."
"Forgive me and the entire country / We did not do enough to save you / I did not keep the promise / To bring you back safely."
Eve Young contributed to this report.