Itay Banjo, 30: Loved to cook for his friends ‘like a grandmother’
Murdered by Hamas terrorists while trying to flee the Supernova music festival on October 7
Itay Banjo, 27, from Haifa, was murdered by Hamas terrorists while trying to flee the Supernova music festival on October 7.
Itay attended the party with his friend, Shani Kupervaser, and when the invasion began, the two tried to escape to Beersheba in Itay’s car. They were attacked by terrorists on the way and ended up in a roadside bomb shelter where they were eventually murdered.
For a week his family searched for any word of his fate, until they were informed that his body had been identified.
Itay was buried on October 15 in Haifa. He is survived by his parents, Zehava and Yaakov, and his brothers, Matan and Maor.
Born and raised in Haifa, Itay completed his mandatory military service in the Nahal Brigade, finishing with distinction, according to a state eulogy. After his release he worked to save up money before departing on a six-month trip around South America.
Upon his return, he started a degree in materials science at Ben-Gurion University. When he was killed, Itay had just begun his master’s degree at Ben-Gurion University, where he was also working full-time. In his free time, he liked to party and dance with his friends and was described by loved ones as an optimist.
His parents, Zehava and Yaakov told Haifa’s local news publication, Haipo, that Itay was their youngest son.
“He was a smart and funny kid who excelled at everything he did. He loved to get into mischief,” they said.
“Itay was a serious person, but he also loved parties, friends, and fun, and he combined the two perfectly. His hobbies were partying, going to the beach and Maccabi Haifa (soccer team),” said his brother Matan.
Even though it had been more than a decade since Itay graduated from high school, his teacher, Vera, remembered him as a social student who was an excellent friend.
“He was a boy with a huge heart, a fine sense of humor, and a massive smile. He was one of the pillars of his class, loved by everyone, teachers and students alike,” she said.
Brit, a friend of Itay’s from university, said he was easy to connect to.
“Outside of university life, he would always host people. He knew how to cook like a grandmother for her grandchildren, and he would produce excellent Friday night meals,” she said, adding that “most importantly, he was a true friend: always listening, and I always knew I could count on him for anything.”
Another university friend of Itay’s, Nitay, wrote that he was “a smart and intelligent person with a good head on his shoulders.”
“Itay was a person who was full of joy, always laughing, always making the mood lighter, a person who loved sarcasm,” he said.
Another friend, Yoav, wrote that Itay knew that he was new to Beersheba when he had just moved there and that Itay had made sure to look out for him and take care of him.
“I was always amazed by how smart he was and how he invested everything he had into success. In our conversations, Itay always made sure to say how lucky he was to have such loving and supportive parents, family, and friends,” he wrote.
