From the Liveblog of
Wednesday, October 15, 2025
Mourners join funeral procession for slain hostage Guy Illouz
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleJessica Steinberg, The Times of Israel's culture and lifestyles editor, covers the Sabra scene from south to north and back to the center
Mourners are taking part in a funeral procession for Guy Illouz, whose body was returned to Israel on Monday night after he was killed in Hamas captivity.
The mourners hold Israeli flags, mirroring the coffin draped with a flag, as they walk behind the van it is being transported in.
Illouz’s coffin is being driven from Rishon Lezion to Ra’anana, his family’s hometown, where he will be buried in a local cemetery.
“This is a hero of Israel who saved people at the Nova [music festival]!” says one man in the procession. “This is what heroes look like.”
“He was a musician — his music will live forever,” says a woman, weeping.
Later today, people will gather to commemorate Uriel Baruch, who was killed on October 7, at his family’s synagogue in the Pisgat Ze’ev neighborhood of Jerusalem. His body was returned Tuesday night, along with that of Eitan Levy, a cab driver who was killed on October 7. Levy will be buried on Thursday near his home in Bat Yam.
The Times of Israel Community.