October 7 · Personal story
Idan Shtivi
Abducted
October 7, 2023
Abduction location
Nova music festival near Re’im
Current outcome
Returned for burial · August 29, 2025
His body was recovered in Gaza and returned to Israel in August 2025. His mother said it came home on August 28, her birthday; the BTL memorial profile records August 29. Idan was buried in Kfar Maas on September 1.
01
Life before
Idan studied sustainability and governance at Reichman University and was beginning his second year. He met his partner, Stav Levi, while she worked at a wine bar in Tel Aviv; they camped and hiked together and shared a love of nature. He enjoyed free-diving and extreme sports with his brother Omri. An amateur photographer, he had agreed to photograph friends’ yoga and music workshops. He loved the sea and was preparing to sign a new lease with Stav on October 9 in the seaside community of Ein Hayam.
02
Abduction
Idan joined his family for Shabbat dinner on October 6, then drove south before dawn. He had just arrived at Nova when rockets began. As he and friends prepared to leave, he stopped to help a wounded friend and drove with another person. His brother’s account described the car reaching the road before it came under fire; Idan was killed and taken into Gaza.
03
Captivity
For nearly a year, Idan’s family did not know he had died. On October 6, 2024, authorities determined his death based on intelligence and expert review. His father Eli continued to hope he was alive and did not join the family’s shiva.
04
Return
His mother, Dalit Oron, said Idan’s body was returned to Israel on August 28, her birthday. Forensic identification confirmed his identity and officials informed the family. His father had been abroad speaking about Idan when he learned that his son had been found; he returned immediately.
05
Aftermath
Eli described Idan as an idealist who would not have left Israel to avoid military service. He said Idan stayed at the festival to help a couple, and that he would have encouraged his son to do the same. Idan’s sister Hila had earlier described him as someone who made her feel safe and stayed beside her when she was afraid.