Here Lived
This was the home of Itzik Elgarat. Itzik came to the kibbutz following his sister Rachel Danzig and his brother Eli Elgarat z”l. At the kibbutz he met Dorta, a volunteer from Denmark, and they moved together to Denmark. They were married in Denmark, where they built a family – two children, Max and Roni. After around 11 years in Denmark, Itzik returned to the kibbutz, while his family remained in Denmark, where they still live today
Itzik worked as the kibbutz caretaker and was responsible for plumbing, gas, and steam systems maintenance. He served all the kibbutz members around the clock and was available at all times.
Itzik stood out in the social fabric of the kibbutz, formed strong connections with the younger generation, and enjoyed spending time at the kibbutz pub as well as hosting social gatherings in his home.
Itzik loved soccer and was an exceptionally talented player.
In the Friday football matches at the kibbutz, he always shone.
Itzik was also a devoted supporter of the Maccabi Tel Aviv soccer club.
October 7th
On October 7, 2023, at 11:15 a.m., Itzik called his brother Dani and told him he had been seriously wounded in his hand. During the call, terrorists broke into his safe room. Itzik shouted over the phone, “Dani, this is the end, this is the end…” — and from that moment, all contact with him was lost. The terrorists abducted wounded Itzik and took him to Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis.
They then looted the house causing extensive damage.
What Happened Since
On November 24, 2024, Itzik was taken into the tunnels after IDF forces had approached the hospital.
In the tunnels, he met members of Kibbutz Nir Oz. Testimonies from those who saw him and were released in the November deal revealed that he had lost a significant amount of weight, but his injured hand had healed, and overall his condition was relatively stable.
According to testimony from a medical staff member at Nasser Hospital, Itzik received reasonable medical treatment for his hand injury.
In March, Hamas released a video claiming that Itzik had been killed in an IDF airstrike, but this report was never confirmed by Israeli authorities.
Later, the security establishment informed his family that there was grave concern for his life, but his condition could not be determined with certainty.
Itzik was returned to Israel for burial as part of the second deal, on February 26, 2025, and was laid to rest in Nir Oz — his beloved home. Several months later, his family was informed that Itzik had been murdered during interrogation.
