October 7 · Personal story
Eden Zecharya
Abducted
October 7, 2023
Abduction location
Mefalsim Junction, after leaving the Nova festival
Current outcome
Returned for burial · December 12, 2023
Eden was abducted near Mefalsim on October 7, 2023. Her body was recovered, identified and returned to Israel on December 12, 2023.
01
Work, home, and dogs
Eden lived in Rishon LeZion and worked in sales at a water-purifier company, where her mother said Eden led in both results and relationships with customers and coworkers. Eden loved music, good food, nature, beaches, and travel. Eden and partner Ofek Kimchi had recently moved in together and cared for dogs Ted and Kaya, whom Eden called her children.
02
Flight from Nova
Eden and Ofek had not planned to attend Nova; a friend persuaded them to go late on October 6. At dawn they drove away and encountered gunmen near Mefalsim Junction. Her mother recounted that Eden lost consciousness after gunfire struck their car. The wounded Ofek and their friend tried to call an ambulance, then fled as the gunmen approached. The friend survived with a shoulder injury; Ofek was killed. During a phone call with her father, Eden had asked him to take care of the dogs. Her car was taken to Gaza with her inside.
03
The family waited
Eden’s family spent weeks without knowing where she was or what condition she was in. Her mother kept hoping for her return while caring for the dogs Eden had asked the family to protect. Later, her mother described how the family kept Ted and Kaya together even as grief made it difficult for Eden’s father to care for them alone.
04
Body recovered
On December 12, 2023, Israeli forces brought Eden’s body back from Gaza to Israel. Medical and rabbinical authorities confirmed her identity. During the operation that enabled the recovery of Eden and Ziv Dado, reserve soldiers Gal Meir Eisenkot and Eyal Meir Berkowitz were killed, and other soldiers were wounded.
05
A promise kept
At first, Eden’s father moved into her home to care for Ted and Kaya. Later, a family in Kibbutz HaOgen adopted both dogs and kept them together. Eden’s mother shares their care and expenses; holidays and meals bring both families together. “Take care of the dogs” became part of how relatives remember Eden and a request carried into daily life.