Thousands mass for funeral procession of Israeli hostage killed in Gaza
Thousands lined the streets around the Israeli commericial hub Tel Aviv on Friday for the funeral procession of Tsachi Idan, a hostage killed in captivity in Gaza.
The development engineer was abducted from his kibbutz of Nahal Oz during Hamas's unprecedented attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.
He was taken to Gaza with his hands covered in the blood of his 18-year-old daughter Maayan Idan, who had been shot dead in front of him as the family hid in a safe room.
Hamas handed over his body and those of three other hostages on Thursday in exchange for more than 600 Palestinian prisoners.
It marked the final swap under the first phase of a Gaza ceasefire deal that took effect on January 19 and ended more than 15 months of war in the Palestinian territory.
Mourners gathered for a memorial service at Bloomfield Stadium, home ground of Hapoel Tel Aviv, the football club Idan supported.
Hundreds of fans stood in the stands, many of them weeping and waving the clubs red colours alongside the national flag.
"Tsachi Idan, red forever," banners around the stadium proclaimed.
In their speeches, Idan's relatives asked for forgiveness for not having been able to bring him back alive from the Gaza Strip.
"I am parting from my older brother and I ask his forgiveness, on behalf of all of us, for returning in a coffin and not on his feet as he left," said his sister Noam Idan Ben Ezra.
Photographs of Idan with his family were projected on a giant screen, with the words "Tsachi Idan our hero".
Uncle Yigal Idan also asked for forgiveness and criticised Israel's leaders who "did not know how to bring you back in time".
"Sorry I didn't shout loud enough... and that the state forgot you," he said.
Between the speeches, Idan's family and supporters sang the national anthem in hushed tones.
Afterwards, the funeral procession made its way to the burial site in Kibbutz Einat, around 20 kilometres (12 miles) away.
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