Itzhak Gelerenter

On the morning of October 7, Itzik Gelernter arrived early at the Nova music festival. His daughter, Yarden Pivko, was unable to reach him that morning; the lack of communication led his family to believe that he might have been seeking shelter in the basement due to rocket attacks, which often disrupt phone reception.

However, they later discovered that he'd gone to the festival with a couple of friends, both of whom tragically lost their lives during the attack.

Several days after the initial incident, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) informed the family that Gelernter's phone was tracked to Gaza. This information led authorities to believe that he had been taken hostage by the Hamas terrorists.

His daughter describes her father as someone who "loves life" and emphasized his resourcefulness and intelligence. She remains hopeful and determined to see her father return safely.