Thousands gathered at Kibbutz Nir Yitzhak to mourn Tal Haimi, whose body was returned to Israel after being held in Gaza for over two years. Haimi, the head of the kibbutz's civil defense squad, was killed defending his community during the October 7, 2023 attack, and his body was taken by Hamas. His wife Ela, who had previously held a symbolic funeral with his helmet, spoke movingly at the burial, sharing memories and expressing pride in their life together. Family members remembered Haimi's bravery, his devotion to his loved ones, and the pain of his absence, especially for his youngest son, Lotan, born after his death. The return of Haimi's body came as part of a ceasefire agreement, though the bodies of 13 hostages remain in Gaza, with families still waiting for closure.