RELEASED: Dual US citizen Liat Beinin Atzili; husband Aviv murdered on Oct. 7

Liat Beinin Atzili was released on November 29 as part of a temporary ceasefire deal brokered by Qatar and the United States between Hamas and Israel. Her husband Aviv was murdered on October 7. This is the story of her capture:

American-born Liat Beinin Atzili, a tour guide at Yad Vashem, and her husband Aviv Atzili, both 49, have been missing from their hometown of Kibbutz Nir Oz since October 7.

Aviv left the house in the early morning hours as part of the security response team after Hamas terrorists entered the kibbutz.

Liat was in the safe room, where she spoke with her parents and friends over the telephone. She was last heard from at 11:30 a.m. when she called a close friend who lives on Kibbutz Shomrat.

Aviv and Liat Beinin Atzili were taken hostage in Kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7, 2023. Liat was freed on November 29, 2023. On November 30, Aviv’s death was announced. (Courtesy)

Aviv’s phone was geolocated to Gaza on October 8, and friends said that the Atzili house was burned but there was no blood or signs of struggle.

Aviv, who runs the garage for agricultural machinery at the kibbutz, is also an artist who draws and does metalwork.

Aviv’s mother, Telma Atzili, 78, also lives on Nir Oz, and told At Magazine that she hid for 10 hours in the narrow space between the bed and the wall of the sealed room, escaping the notice of the Hamas terrorists rampaging the kibbutz.

She’s now in Eilat with her three grandchildren, the children of Aviv and Liat, ages 22, 20 and 18. Atzili said that when she realized that Hamas terrorists were attacking the kibbutz, she changed from pajamas into clothing, thinking that if they kidnapped and took her to Gaza, she would rather be dressed than in pajamas.

“The terrorists rode around on bikes as if it were a country club,” she said.

Liat was freed on November 29. The following day, Aviv’s death was announced. His body remains in Gaza.