October 7 · Personal story
Guy Illouz
Abducted
October 7, 2023
Abduction location
Supernova music festival near Kibbutz Re’im, southern Israel
Current outcome
Returned for burial · October 13, 2025
His body was returned from Gaza to Israel on October 13, 2025.
01
Music from early on
Guy Illouz was born and raised in Ra’anana. Music had been part of his life since childhood: he played guitar, wrote songs and worked as a sound technician with Hayehudim, Matti Caspi and Shalom Hanoch. He also studied philosophy and psychology. Friends remembered his generous heart, his love of music and time outdoors, and his dog George. He was 26 when he was abducted.
02
Wounded while fleeing Supernova
On October 7, 2023, Guy was at the Supernova music festival near Re’im. He was wounded while trying to flee the attack and was abducted to Gaza. His friend Alon Werber was killed alongside him during the assault; another friend, Almog Sarusi, was taken captive. Guy was 26.
03
Death from wounds in captivity
The Times of Israel reported that accounts from hostages released in November said Illouz died in a Gaza hospital, apparently because his wounds went untreated. Released hostage Maya Regev told his family she had been hospitalized next to him for two days and saw his final breaths. A later Ynet report attributed to the IDF the statement that Illouz died from his wounds in captivity. The Times of Israel described October 14, 2023 as his believed date of death; his family learned he had died on December 1, 2023.
04
Death and family notification
Guy’s body was returned from Gaza to Israel on October 13, 2025. Israeli authorities announced his identification on October 14. After two years of waiting, his family could bring him home for burial.
05
Remains returned and burial
Guy was buried in Ra’anana on October 15, 2025. At the funeral, his father Michel spoke of the son whose music and love had filled the family’s life. His parents, Doris and Michel, and friends remembered the musician they had known before October 7.