Hostage Idan Shtivi killed, body detained by Hamas, forum announces

Hostage Idan Shtivi, 29, who was kidnapped from the site of the Nova music festival to the Gaza Strip on October 7 of last year, was killed, and his body is being held by Hamas, The Hostages and Missing Families Forum announced on Monday. 

The Petah Tikva municipality announced that Shtivi had been killed on October 7. 

"With great sorrow and immense pain, we were informed of the murder of a resident of Petah Tikva, Idan Shtivi, by Hamas on the morning of Simchat Torah, 10/7/2023. His body was kidnapped and is being held in Gaza," the municipality said in a statement. 

Kidnapped from the site of the Nova festival

On October 7, Shtivi arrived at the site of the Nova festival to take photos of his friends who were conducting workshops there.  When the attacks began, Shtivi helped two people escape before he was kidnapped. 

The Tikva (Hope) Forum, which represents some hostage families, shared in the grief of the Shtivi family, writing, "Idan was murdered while he was in the middle of helping and saving the lives of others, and that is how we will try to remember him."  

Shtivi's partner, Stav Levi, said of him in November, “One of the things that defines Idan is his heart. There aren’t so many people who you can say are truly pure in their core. He is quiet but so profound and strong.” 

With a passion for nature and the environment, Shtivi studied environmental sciences at Reichman University’s School of Sustainability. 

Shtivi left behind his parents, Eli and Dalit, three siblings, and his partner, Stav. 

Eric Narrow contributed to this report.