Idan Shtivi arrived at the Nova festival a few hours before Hamas launched their devastating attack. He came to film his friends who were playing at the festival, but he wasn't able to enter. When the attack started, Shtivi helped a man and woman, whom he had just met, to escape, a decision that ultimately led to his kidnapping.
Today, exactly a year after the horrific massacre of October 7th, the Forum for Hostage Families announced that he was murdered in Hamas captivity in Gaza.
The Times of Israel reported that, "He joined the party at 6 a.m., and called his girlfriend at 7, telling her about the missiles overhead and that he was leaving. He drove off with two friends, Lior and Yulia, but was blocked by the terrorists on the road heading north. He then turned the car around and started driving south, but was driven off the road, lost control of the vehicle and hit a tree.
That was the last place where he was seen, and although his friends’ bodies were found, security forces confirmed that he has been taken hostage to Gaza."
They added, "Idan Shtivi (28) loved nature, photography and animals. Idan especially loved dogs. He was about to start his second year at Reichman University, studying Sustainability and Governance. He always thought of other people and sacrificed himself for other people.
Idan is survived by his parents Eli and Dalit, 3 brothers and his partner Stav. His body is still held by Hamas in Gaza.