‘I’m sorry, Tamiri’: Family of slain hostage bids farewell at Nir Oz funeral

Moshe Adar, the father of Tamir Adar, eulogizes his son at his funeral, saying: “You’ve finally come home, to the place where you were born, where you grew up, where you built your family. To the place you fought for with supreme courage — until you could fight no more.”

Adar was killed defending Kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7, 2023, and his body was taken captive to Gaza, and was returned to Israel this week.

Moshe notes that he and his son served together in the kibbutz defense squad for many years, and were always told during training that in any incident, the squad would have to hold on until the army arrived.

“But the army didn’t come,” says Adar. “I’m sorry, Tamiri — that a little earlier I left the security squad and wasn’t there with you when you needed me. I’m sorry.”

Adar says he misses their impromptu meetings in the kibbutz fields in the middle of the day, and says his son is missed by so many, and is also still so present. He tells his son that his children, Neta and Asaf, are “amazing and special,” just like their father, and that Hadas, his son’s widow, is raising them beautifully.

Adar’s sister, Roni Adar, says she can now eulogize her brother because he’s come back, laid to rest in the soil of the country he loved and went out to defend, and is now buried next to his best friend.

She thanks Adar for 23 years of life as siblings, for guiding her and lightening heavy moments: “I’m sorry no one came to help you,” she says. “I’m sorry you were there so many hours, alone, with just a few friends. I’m sorry you saw what happened in the kibbutz.”

Nir Adar, Tamir’s brother, begins his eulogy by saying that he feels guilt and shame that he is able to bury Tamir while the “noble Goldin family” and 12 other families are still waiting to receive their loved ones’ bodies, referring to Hadar Goldin, a lieutenant in the Givati Brigade who was killed in August 2014 and whose body is still held by Hamas in Gaza.

“Even in this sacred moment, we continue to experience this terrible terror, with all its many faces,” says Nir Adar. “I swear: I will not rest and I will not be silent until the last hostage is returned — because I know what it feels like to be abandoned, to be left behind, to be forgotten. And what we are fighting for here is something much greater.”

Nir reads aloud the names of the 13 hostages whose bodies are still held captive by Hamas in Gaza.