Alon Shamriz, 26, one of three Israeli hostages who were accidentally slain by IDF soldiers in Gaza on Friday, was laid to rest in Israel on Sunday, as thousands of mourners turned out to pay their respects.
Shamriz, who was abducted by Hamas terrorists from Kibbutz Kfar Aza, was killed alongside Yotam Haim, 28 who was also kidnapped from Kfar Aza, and Samar Fouad Talalka, 24, who was abducted from Nir Am.
The three were captured on October 7 and survived 70 days in Hamas captivity before they were shot to death by IDF troops in northern Gaza’s Shejaiya neighborhood, after they were mistakenly identified as a threat.
The IDF said that it believes the three of them “fled or were abandoned by the terrorists who held them captive” as IDF forces closed in, and noted that troops had not encountered any civilians in the war-torn area of the Strip in quite some time.
Shamriz, a computer engineering student at Sapir College, was buried in Kibbutz Shefayim on Sunday, where most of the evacuees from Kfar Aza have been staying. His brother, Ido, eulogized him at the funeral, and also cast blame on Israeli authorities for both his kidnapping and his death.
“My brother, I hope your death will command life, and they will realize the lives of our hostages are critical, and they have to act quickly to free everyone,” said Ido. “Alon, my beloved brother… our middle sibling, is no longer alive.”
Alon Shamriz was abducted from his Kibbutz Kfar Aza home on October 7, 2023, by Hamas terrorists. (Courtesy)
“For 70 days, we were on a journey, every one of us from a different point, and gathered the strength they had left for one goal. I went out to protect the kibbutz, but I didn’t succeed in protecting you,” he added. “We turned over every stone, we slammed on every table so that we would be reunited, but it wasn’t enough,” he said in tears.
“We didn’t do everything, but you did. You were on your own journey, in the dark without glasses, held by monsters in terrible conditions, without water, without food, without oxygen and without daylight. You survived all this with courage and you waited for redemption. I spoke about you so much in every meeting and every interview, but I didn’t say how brave you are. You always knew what was good for you, and you did things in your way.”
Ido continued: “This time, too, you fled against all odds, and you did what you had to do in order to come home. My poor brother, what did you go through in those moments, when you had already seen the light, and it turned into darkness. The one who abandoned you also murdered you, after you did everything right. Everything we did was for you, and now it will all be for your memory.”
“My brother, I am sorry we didn’t do enough,” he said. “I’m sorry we didn’t manage… My brother, give me a little bit of your wisdom to know how to move forward. Give me some of your strength because I have none left.”
Ido Shamriz (center) reads his eulogy alongside his mother, Dilka, and other relatives at the funeral of his brother Alon Shamriz in Kibbutz Shefayim on December 17, 2023. (Oren ZIV / AFP)
Their brother, Yonatan, echoed the sentiment in his own eulogy.
“You came out of the tunnel to the open air, you already saw freedom, you did everything right, in the face of a ridiculous [IDF] chain of command, an irresponsible government, and a barbaric terror group, you overcame everything and you didn’t need anyone. You did everything right.”
Yonatan continued: “I promise, Alon, that your death will not be for nothing. We will get up and we will shake the country. We will make sure that your name will be a symbol for bravery, a symbol for revolution. We will not forget and we will not forgive those who betrayed us on the 7th [of October], the government which brought disaster on us. We will chase those responsible, and they will be sorry.”
Economy Minister Nir Barkat could be seen in photos of Shamriz’s funeral. Yesh Atid MK Debbie Bitton was also in attendance.
Mourners at the funeral of slain hostage Alon Shamriz, who was mistakenly killed by IDF troops in Gaza, in Kibbutz Shefayim, December 17, 2023. (Oren ZIV / AFP)
His sister, Roni, also spoke at his funeral, saying that “just a few days ago I stood in front of many people and told them how hard it was without you. We were so sure that the hole in our heart would be refilled.”
“It was supposed to end differently,” she continued. “You’re supposed to be alive. Alon, I am sorry. All this time I can only think, ‘What if?’ But it doesn’t matter anymore… I won’t forget you and what a hero you are.”
Loved ones and allies of the hostages marched in Tel Aviv on Saturday evening, demanding with renewed vigor efforts to release all of the remaining approximately 130 hostages in Gaza.
At the rally, Amit Ashkenazi, whose sister, Doron Steinbrecher was also kidnapped from Kfar Aza, said the kibbutz is feeling “immense pain” following the news: “The war’s objective is to bring them back alive, but three hostages, two from Kibbutz Kfar Aza, are returning in coffins.”
In announcing their deaths on Friday, IDF spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said it was a “sad and painful event for all of us, and the IDF bears responsibility for everything that happened.”
Hagari said the IDF was already investigating the incident, “which took place in a battle zone where the troops encountered many terrorists in recent days, and today, and fought hard battles,” he said. Meanwhile, new protocols for identifying hostages were transferred to ground forces, “to do everything to prevent another tragic event like this.”
Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.
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