Yagev Buchstab

Yagev Buchstab, along with his wife Rimon Buchstab were kidnapped by Hamas terrorists during a violent attack on their community, Kibbutz Nirim, on October 7th.

The events leading to their abduction began with the sounding of rocket sirens in the area. Yagev's parents, Oren and Esther Buchshtab, who also lived in Kibbutz Nirim, sought shelter in their own home's bomb shelter. As the situation escalated, Esther, who is a member of Nirim's emergency response team, received alerts from other kibbutzim in the region reporting terrorist infiltrations and attacks. She realized that this was not an isolated incident and and attempted to contacted Yagev and Rimon, urging them to find safety.

During their communication, Rimon reported hearing voices speaking in Arabic outside their shelter. Esther advised them to take cover, but their communication was abruptly cut off.

Military forces arrived at the scene around 3:30 PM, and Yagev's father, Oren, who was part of the response team, arrived at his son and daughter-in-law's home. To his dismay, he found it empty, with bullet casings on the floor. Their safe room showed signs of struggle, including blood and bullet holes. Additionally, their beloved pets, which included five dogs and four stray cats they had adopted, were also missing.

After a week of uncertainty, a military representative officially informed the family that Yagev and Rimon had been kidnapped by Hamas.

Yagev and Rimon were known for their love of nature, music, and their deep affection for animals. They had met in school as part of the same music group, and their paths crossed again years later, leading to their marriage in 2021. Yagev was a musician and soundman who built his own instruments, including electric guitars, and their safe room served as his laboratory for his creations.