Uriel Baruch

Uriel Baruch, 32, is presumed to be held captive in Gaza after being abducted by Hamas terrorists on October 7. His abduction occurred during the Supernova desert rave event. Uriel attended the outdoor party with a friend, but the next morning, his family was shocked to see videos on social media that showed his car with his friend dead inside while Uriel lay on the ground. This left the family in a state of uncertainty, not knowing whether he was alive, injured, or deceased.
In their desperate search for Uriel, his family scoured hospitals across the country, hoping to find him, perhaps unidentified in one of them. Eleven days later, they received the heartbreaking news that Uriel's friend had been identified, but there was no evidence of blood near Uriel's car, giving them a glimmer of hope that he might still be alive. It took another week for the authorities to officially identify Uriel as a presumed captive in Gaza, though there was no concrete evidence confirming his whereabouts in Gaza.
Uriel has a wife, Rachel, with whom he has two young children. Their family resides in Givon, a city outside Jerusalem. Uriel is employed in the construction industry, where he sells sand and other supplies to contractors. The third of four children, Uriel is described by his father as the type of person who readily extends a helping hand to anyone in need, including strangers, and cherishes spending time with his family.