On the morning of the first of January, I received a message from my first
cousin Eli in Israel, about his wife’s cousin Ilan Weiss. Ilan’s whereabouts had
been unknown for the 3 months since the senseless and brutal attack on
Kibbutz Be’eri on October 7th, the day of Simchat Torah, that Black Shabbat
when his brother Amir and Amir’s wife Mati were murdered, and his daughter
Noga and wife Shiri taken hostage by Hamas.

Eli had just sent a new year’s message. But then there came another message
right after, with the devastating news:

“Right now at 10:59, Vered told me that Ilan’s sister called and told her that
there was enough evidence to announce that Ilan is dead.”

Ilan’s family didn’t hear from him after 7:15 a.m. on October 7th. His wife Shiri
and daughter Noga were seized and taken hostage in Gaza. They were
fortunately released on November 25th, and the family had hoped and
prayed that there might be good news about Ilan too, but it was not to be.
Ilan had been murdered in the assault on his community. On that terrible
day, the commander of the armed team in the kibbutz was slaughtered right
at the beginning of the invasion. As deputy commander, Ilan had keys for the
armoury. He was on his way with his club car to distribute weapons to the
members of the standby squad when he was killed and his body taken to
Gaza City by Hamas.

I never met Ilan, but I wish I had. He was a well-known and respected man
among his entire community, which he loved very much. He was a very kind
man with a great sense of humour. His daughters used to tease Ilan that his
beloved dog Ketem, also murdered on that day, was the son their father
never had. He is deeply mourned by his wife Shiri and his daughters Noga,
Meytal and Ma’ayan, his sister Osnat, his brother Raviv, and by all who loved
him.

Ilan will be remembered with deepest respect for his noble sacrifice and
service to our people. May his memory be forever a blessing to his family
and all who knew him, and may they find comfort in the knowledge that Ilan
died a hero, fulfilling the highest honour of protecting his family and his
community. We pray that his body is brought home.
They are us and we are them.