Body of hostage Tal Haimi, murdered defending his Kibbutz, returned to his family
Widow Ela Haimi: 'The relief is enormous, but precisely now, because I feel it, I understand how important it is for the families of the 15 remaining kidnapped'
The body of Sergeant Major Tal Haimi, 41, was returned to Israel by Hamas on Monday night after 745 days in captivity.
A third-generation member of Kibbutz Nir Yitzhak in the Negev, he loved to work on its dairy farm and was also a mechanical engineer.
A commander of Nir Yitzhak’s rapid response team, he fell in battle defending his home against Hamas terrorists on the morning of 7 October, 2023 and his body was taken into Gaza.
He leaves behind his wife Ela, four children – Nir, Einav, Udi and Lotan, who was born in May 2024, seven months after Tal was killed – his father, and a sister.
In a statement, the Hostage and Missing Families Forum said: “Tal Haimi z”l, a third-generation descendant of the founders of Kibbutz Nir Yitzhak and a fourth-generation resident, was the son of Zohar and the late Esti, and the brother of Or. He was married to Ela and the father of four children, one of whom he would never have the chance to meet.
“Tal worked as a mechanical engineer and was a member of the Nir Yitzhak emergency response team. He loved taking his family on trips in nature and camping outdoors. An avid tool enthusiast, he was known for always finding a solution to any problem that arose.
“On the morning of October 7, Tal went out to defend his community, fighting against dozens of terrorists at the gates of Nir Yitzhak. He and his team fought with extraordinary courage for several hours. During the battle, Tal was killed and taken to Gaza.
“Initially, his family believed Tal was alive, but two months later they received the devastating news that he had been abducted after being killed.”
There are still 15 slain hostages remaining in the Gaza Strip.
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