Hundreds gather to mark 27th birthday of slain hostage Guy Illouz

By Jessica Steinberg

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6 July 2025, 9:30 pm 1 Edit

Jessica Steinberg, The Times of Israel's culture and lifestyles editor, covers the Sabra scene from south to north and back to the center

Gilad Kahana, left, of The Giraffes, performs on July 6, 2025, in Tel Aviv's Hostages Square, to mark the birthday of murdered hostage Guy Illouz. (Paulina Patimer/ Hostages and Missing Families Forum)

A grieving crowd of hundreds gathers at Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square to mark what would have been the 27th birthday of Guy Illouz, who was kidnapped by Hamas terrorists on October 7 and murdered in captivity. His body still held hostage.

Illouz, who worked in Israel’s music industry as a stagehand, has been mourned by local musicians, including Matti Caspi, Hayehudim, and others.

The rock band, The Giraffes, along with singer-songwriter Hemi Rudner perform in Illouz’s memory.