Emotional Farewell to Nir Oz Defender Tamir Adar

“You stood guard on the day our home became a battlefield, and because of you, people here live.”

By United with Israel Staff

A large crowd gathered Thursday at Kibbutz Nir Oz to bid farewell to Tamir Adar, whose body was returned to Israel after 746 days in Hamas captivity. The community, alongside friends, family, and national leaders, paid tribute to a man whose courage and devotion embodied the spirit of the Israeli people.

President Isaac Herzog eulogized Adar with profound emotion, calling him a symbol of heroism and selflessness. “We accompany you today, Tamir dear, to eternal rest. You have returned at last to the land you loved, to the kibbutz that shaped your life,” Herzog said.

He recounted Adar’s bravery during the attack on Nir Oz, describing the security squad member who “charged forward and fought with courage and self-sacrifice against an enemy that came in hordes intent on slaughter, torture, and abduction. Tamir went out to defend his home, quite literally.”

Herzog also offered a heartfelt apology on behalf of the nation. “Forgive us, for you and your comrades in the security squad were left alone to face those human monsters. Forgive us that only after more than two years are we bringing you home, to your kibbutz. And forgive us all the men and women of the extraordinary Nir Oz, whom we have seen since that first day in your grief and in your strength. Forgive us for not protecting you and your loved ones on that bitter, fateful day,” he said.

Adar’s father, Moshe, spoke through tears about the void left by his son. “Tamir, my beloved, you have finally come home to the place where you were born, raised, and built your family. You are a true hero, leaving without asking any questions. How you once told me, ‘First we act, then we ask questions.’”

Moshe recalled the countless moments shared with his son, small everyday joys now forever missed, and left a personal token for Tamir to “take with you on your way.”

His mother, Yael, described the deep connection between Tamir and his home. “Tamiri, you are home, free. It took us two years to bring you back, and now you are here on the grass where you ran, beside the tree you climbed, near the paths where you learned to walk, run, and ride your bike. You stood guard on the day our home became a battlefield, and because of you, people here live.”

She recalled her son’s unwavering sense of duty. “I once asked you, ‘Tamiri, do you really need to be in the security squad?’ and you answered, ‘If I am not there, and he is not there, then who is?’ I asked if you were afraid something might happen to you, and you smiled and said, ‘Mom, theoretically you are right, it could happen. Practically, the chance is very low. The army arrives immediately. As a fighter, I trust them.’ That morning you were there alone with just a handful of your friends.”

Members of the kibbutz described Adar as a devoted family man, an educator, and a lover of nature. “Tamir was a farmer, a teacher, a loyal friend. He loved people and the land. He was deeply connected to the kibbutz, to his family, to his community,” the kibbutz wrote in tribute. “He and his comrades faced impossible odds to defend Nir Oz on that black Sabbath. He did not survive, but his courage and legacy will never be forgotten.”

Adar, a deputy squad leader in Nir Oz’s security team, fell during the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack. His body was taken to Gaza and held for more than two years before his return. He is survived by his wife, Hadas; their two children; his parents and siblings; and his grandmother, Yaffa Adar, herself a former hostage released in 2023.

The funeral united the nation in grief and pride and served as a stark reminder of the resilience and heroism of Israelis defending their homeland.