Tamir Adar, part of Nir Oz squad that held off terrorists, is declared dead

Tamir’s wife and kids were saved, while he and his 85-year-old grandmother Yaffa Adar were abducted; Yaffa was released Nov. 24

The death of Tamir Adar, 38, was confirmed on January 5, 2024. According to the announcement issued by Kibbutz Nir Oz, he was killed on October 7. This is the story of his capture and its aftermath:

Tamir Adar, 38, left his house at 6:30 a.m. on October 7 as part of the Kibbutz Nir Oz emergency squad.

As he went to grab his ammunition, Tamir texted his wife, telling her to lock all the doors and windows and not to open to anyone, even if Tamir himself was banging on the door, said his uncle, Erez Adar.

“There were hundreds of terrorists at the kibbutz,” said Erez, who grew up in Nir Oz. “Other kibbutzim had tens of terrorists, but here there were so many. It’s the kibbutz closest to Gaza and farthest from the center, so people just waited for hours for the army to show up.”

At some point that morning, Tamir was taken to Gaza, as was his 85-year-old grandmother, Yaffa Adar, on her covered mobility scooter.

Palestinian terrorists abduct an Israeli grandmother, later identified as Yaffa Adar, from Kibbutz Kfar Aza into the Gaza Strip, October 7, 2023. (AP/Hatem Ali)

“We were all supposed to be together on that Shabbat, at my mom’s house,” said Erez Adar.

For now, the surviving members of the Adar family are all in Eilat, along with the rest of the Kibbutz Nir Oz evacuees.