October 7 · Personal story
Shaked Dahan
Abducted
October 7, 2023
Abduction location
The “White House” IDF post between Nir Oz and Nirim.
Current outcome
Returned for burial · August 28, 2024
Killed on October 7, 2023; his body was taken to Gaza after his death, recovered and returned to Israel on August 28, 2024, then buried in Israel.
01
Guitar, soccer and a family promise
Shaked was 19 and served in the 77th Battalion of the 7th Armored Brigade. Friends and family remembered his guitar playing, love of soccer, support for Maccabi Haifa and time with his family. His brother Tomer said Shaked had wanted throughout his life to become a fighter in the IDF. Three days before October 7, Shaked sat with his father and promised to remember his favorite cologne for the father’s October 12 birthday.
02
Tank crew at the border
Shaked was at the “White House” post with tank commander Omer Neutra, Oz Daniel and Nimrod Cohen when the attack began. Their tank moved toward the border and came under RPG fire and explosive attacks. Shaked, Neutra and Daniel were killed, while Cohen was abducted alive. Shaked’s body was taken to Gaza after he had been killed.
03
His body remained in Gaza
The army confirmed Shaked’s death on November 28, 2023, after weeks in which he was classified as a soldier held by a terror group. His family was told that intelligence findings corroborated his death, but they did not yet have his body. His mother, Sigalit, said she would not observe shiva until he was returned. His body remained in Gaza after he had been killed.
04
Recovery in August 2024
Shaked’s remains were returned to Israel in August 2024, and he was buried in Israel. The Jerusalem Post dates the return to August 28. In a statement reported that day by AFP, the municipality of Migdal HaEmek said his body had been recovered and returned to his family the previous night.
05
A brother’s account of his dream
Tomer described Shaked as a special young person whose wish was to fight in the IDF. Their father’s eulogy recalled a small promise from their meal three days before the attack: Shaked would buy his father’s favorite cologne for his birthday.