The family of Ofir Tzarfati, who was kidnapped alive from the Nuba party, murdered in Hamas captivity and brought to be buried in Israel about two years ago, issued a statement to the media from their home in Kiryat Ata this afternoon (Tuesday) - following the return of additional remains from his body, for the second time during the war.
Ofir Sarfati came to the Nova Festival to celebrate his birthday with his partner Shoval and his friends. He was kidnapped and murdered. His body was returned to Israel in November 2023. In March 2024, additional remains were brought for burial, and in August of that year, a picture of his body was published by Hamas.
His mother, Richel Tzarfati, said: "I stand here today, and again and again I am forced to say goodbye to my son. The third time. The third time I am forced to bury my Ofir. There are no words that can contain it. It is not just pain - it is ongoing emotional abuse. A punch in the stomach, an arrow in the heart, a wound that opens again and again.
""We thought we had come full circle, that we were allowed to lay Ofir to rest, but today we discovered that we never received the whole thing. We were informed that parts of Ofir's body were found and returned to Israel. I can't comprehend this. How can you bury your child in installments? How can you do it again, and again, and again? Every time you open the grave - my heart also opens and another small part of me is buried in it.".
She attacked Hamas's conduct: "What made the pain unbearable is the way Hamas chooses to play with the bodies of our sons. With our pain. With videos, manipulations, and vile performances. Hamas is deliberately undermining the deal, lying to the world with false representations of 'searches' and 'locations.' As if it is acting out of humanitarian motives when it is completely clear that they know where most of the kidnapped are. This is cynicism on levels that are hard to imagine. Evil wrapped in pretense.".
However, she also found comfort: "And yet, amidst all this horror, there is also one moment of light, amidst all this darkness - there is comfort. Comfort that Ofir's remains have returned home, that he will not remain there in this place of depravity and evil, but will finally rest in the land of Israel, with the flag, with the land, with love. I choose to remember Ofir not through the horrors, but through life.
""He was all light. A man of men - young, handsome, full of joy of life, love and laughter. A man who knew how to illuminate everyone he met, who knew how to love without limit, who knew how to live truly. This is my son. This is Ofir and this is his legacy - love. Courage. Light. This is the third time I am burying my son. But I am here, standing, because evil will not defeat us. Not our family, nor the light that Ofir left in the world.".
Shoval Tzarfati, Ofir's sister, said painfully: "My sweet and good brother became this morning once again a tool of blackmail by this evil body. Hamas committed cruel manipulation when it returned the remains of my brother, instead of one of our 13 precious abductees who were supposed to be returned for a proper burial in the Land of Israel, a blatant and contemptuous violation of the agreement that was signed and agreed upon by both sides.".
She said: "Ofir was wounded, kidnapped and stood face to face with Hamas terrorists disguised as doctors and nurses - he looked deep into their eyes and fought them until he closed his eyes. This is the third time we have been forced to open Ofir's greenhouse. And we will do it with our heads held high and happy that Ofir's light will not continue to adorn the cursed land of Gaza. I stand here with a crown on my head, and I am grateful for the privilege of having such a good brother.".
Shoval described Ofir: "A hero of love and light. A young man who dreamed, loved and lived powerfully. A graduate of the Navy, an electrical engineer, a surfer, a traveler, and a beloved tennis instructor who was murdered in Hamas captivity. But his bright light continues to shine in the hearts of all of us. Ofir was a broad soul who filled life with color, joy and hope. From childhood until his last day, he lived every moment to the fullest.
""I am glad that Ofir received the honor he deserves yesterday, to move on the shoulders of our good and brave soldiers inside the Gaza Strip, and to receive the warm welcome in the State of Israel from our good and beautiful people who accompanied him along the roads to the Institute of Forensic Medicine. Thank you to everyone who came out late at night to welcome him. Thank you to the good and brave soldiers who have been risking their lives for us for two years - and to their families who made this possible. And thank you to the people of Israel who embraced us from all corners of the world.".
She called for the burial of the remaining murdered people whose bodies are being held by Hamas: "Their families cannot breathe until they close the circle and bury their loved ones here, in the Land of Israel. Who knows like my family how important it is to bring our loved ones to a proper rest, to let them rest in peace and begin healing. We will continue to pray that everyone will return to us for eternal rest - until the last of the kidnapped. Ofir, may God forgive you! The best person in the world. Rest now! Enough. You are the brightest light in the sky.".
Join the Haredim 10 Facebook page >>
Join the X page of Haredim 10 >>
Want more news, videos and stories? Join the Haredim 10 WhatsApp channel >>
