Uriel Baruch and Tamir Nimrodi are two of the deceased hostages who were identified on Wednesday night at the Institute of Forensic Medicine in Abu Kabir, along with Eitan Levi. Another four deceased hostages were handed over on Monday.
In a message sent by the family to residents of the Givat Ze'ev community where Uriel Baruch resided, they wrote the following: "Dear family and friends, with deep sorrow and great pain, we announce the return of the body of our beloved Uriel Baruch, may God avenge his blood, from the Gaza Strip, after nearly two long years of prayers, hope, and faith."
Baruch, 35, is survived by his wife Racḥeli, two children, his parents Naomi and Amir, and three siblings. He was abducted from the area of the Nova music festival in Re'im after he and his friend Michael Yoav chose to drive back toward the center of the country at approximately 6:45 a.m., following the air raid sirens, but the terrorists overtook them. Two days after the massacre, Michael Yoav was discovered shot dead in the vehicle in which the two had been traveling.
Baruch was kidnapped to Gaza, and on March 26, 2024, his family was informed by the Israel Defense Forces that he was murdered on October 7 and his body was abducted to the Strip.
Nimrodi, a soldier posted on the Gaza border on Oct. 7, was a hostage who had been designated as one whose life was in "grave danger." He served an an education non-commissioned officer. He was seen on Oct. 7 taken by terrorists while walking barefoot, but no sign of life was seen since.
In an interview with Kan Reshet Bet, Tamir's father said: "Ever since Trump and Netanyahu fixed the number of 20 living hostages, I called Gal Hirsch many times. Most of the time he didn't respond to my appeals," he continued.
"None of the responsible officials picked up the phone following Netanyahu's statements that reduced the number from 22 to 20. In general, the State of Israel since October 7 has not gotten used to apologizing. This is apparently the principle that guides it," he said angrily.
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum said the following: "Staff Sergeant (Sgt. First Class) Tamir Nimrodi Z"L of Nirit, was kidnapped from the base in the Gaza envelope where he served as an Education NCO (Mashak Hinuch). He had served for ten months until his abduction. During his military service, he felt he had found his calling and was even interviewed for officer training a week before his kidnapping. His relatives describe him as a sociable, caring, and altruistic person. Tamir was not supposed to be on base on October 7, but he volunteered to close the Sabbath shift so his friends could go home for the holiday. After his abduction, a note was found in his room on which he wrote: 'To succeed in helping as many people as possible, to create a close social circle, and not to harm.' Tamir was kidnapped alive from his base and was killed by IDF bombing while in captivity. Today marks the Hebrew date of his murder. Tamir is the son of Hirut and Alon and the brother of Amit and Mika."
Levi, a 53-year-old taxi driver from Bat Yam, was abducted on Oct. 7 after giving a ride to a female friend from Rishon L'Zion in central Israel to her home in Kibbutz Be'eri. He left his home in Bat Yam and at 7:30 a.m. called to report rocket fire. At 7:40 a.m., his family heard him say: "It landed on my roof!!!" They heard sounds of a struggle and talking in Arabic, and the connection with him was cut off. Two months later, on December 8, his family was informed that intelligence information had been received indicating that Levi was not alive.
When his death was reported, his loved ones described him as a cheerful person who embraced life and loved to socialize. Uriel worked in the building materials industry and enjoyed techno music, always having friends around who gave him the nickname "Badalo." His relatives shared that Uriel routinely contributed to anyone in need, stating he "would give whatever he had in his pocket."
Dan Antebi, Uriel's father-in-law, wrote after his death that he was the husband of my daughter Racḥeli, the father of my beloved grandchildren Shalev and Ofek. Antebi stated that Uriel was a man of joy, smiles, happiness, and extraordinary generosity. His life, he always said, was one huge party and celebration. Uriel fled the Nova party with his friend Michael Yoav, may God avenge his blood, and was captured at the Mefalsim Junction, at the notorious bend. Antebi added that there, he was savagely murdered alongside his friend, and his body was abducted by Hamas to Gaza. He noted that about six months afterward, while they maintained hope that he was still alive, the agonizing news arrived of his murder that same morning and the abduction of his body to Gaza.
Antebi's writing ended with a heartfelt apology to his son-in-law: "Uriel Baruch, my dear son-in-law, I am sorry that you are still there." He apologized that his moral right to be buried in the holy land was withheld. Antabi regretted that he had been transformed into a street poster, with stickers, shirts bearing his picture, and flags. He apologized that Baruch would not raise his children and spend his life with his wife in joy and forever, and that this ordeal was not ending.
