Tamar Metzger

Freed November 28, 2023

At 78, Tamar (Tami), along with her 80-year-old husband Yoram, experienced the horror of being taken captive from their Kibbutz Nir Oz home, a place that should have been their sanctuary. The couple, parents of three and grandparents to seven, were known for their warmth, with Tami's involvement in education and Yoram's long service at the Nirlat factory and the kibbutz garage highlighting their integral roles in the community.

The morning of their abduction, they were in touch with their family, reassuring them of their safety in the safe room, despite their usual reluctance to use it. The last message from the Metzgers at 8:50 a.m. marked the beginning of a harrowing silence, leaving their family in despair. The subsequent discovery of their ransacked home, devoid of any signs of struggle, only deepened the mystery of their fate until the army confirmed their status as captives.

Tami's release on November 28 brought a glimmer of hope to the family, yet Yoram's continued captivity in Gaza casts a long shadow of concern, especially given his health issues, including diabetes and mobility challenges post a hip fracture.