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When Michel Illouz carefully navigated through the throngs beneath the Mediterranean pines and tropical trees at the cemetery in Ra'anana, a city located approximately 20 kilometers north of Tel Aviv, he expressed gratitude to numerous participants as he could.

Earlier he provided an welcoming message to the Israeli public to accompany his loved ones in mourning his young adult son, Guy, whose remains had been returned from Gaza on Monday.

Substantial Gathering

Numerous people answered the call. They filled the roads, followed the hearse carrying his mortal coil, and gathered at the cemetery in such significant numbers that the primary scheme to conduct the service indoors had to be discarded.

As an alternative, the gathering was conducted in the open air, accompanied by the sound of birdsong.

Significant Milestone

This marked the opening memorial service since the remaining two dozen captives came back from Gaza, accompanied by several deceased individuals. Another more than twenty of the fallen captives remain missing, but at minimum this household now had a specific place to grieve and honor their son, according to friends.

Sorrowful Account

Guy Illouz, a musician and recording specialist, had been shot in the back at the Nova music festival during the Hamas offensive on October 7, 2023. Prior to the incident, he had reached out to his father from a sheltered spot to tell him he cared; to bid farewell. He was seized, and per those captured simultaneously, he subsequently passed away from his wounds due to lack of treatment.

Relative's Viewpoint

A trusted companion of the Illouz household, Michelle, fifty years old, commented that it had been crucial to them that the public gathered today. The Illouz relatives, encompassing Guy's two younger sisters and brother, had observed shiva, the seven-day period of grieving, after discovering of his demise in December of the prior year. But now that Guy was ultimately back with them, they desired "supportive individuals again."

"It warms my heart that you came," stated Michel. "We don't take it for granted."

Parent's Homage

He spoke to his son. "My dear Guy," he said, using a affectionate nickname, "it's challenging for me to imagine the days ahead without you. They grabbed you from me – they murdered you – they stole my being and robbed my persona and murdered my soul and feelings."

"I feel empty inside since that senseless shooting by those evil terrorists when they seized you and instructed you to turn around, and then merely shot two gratuitous rounds into your posterior."

Final Goodbye

"And here I am this morning, traveling to Abu Kabir identification center to identify you and say goodbye. They took off the covering, and the primary view I saw was that familiar expression, that optimism, that serenity and nobility that so characterized you."

"I reached out, tried to smell you, gently felt each part in your body. I looked at you, I was by myself with you, and yes, I felt with total assurance that it was you. Yes, I know, Guy-shuk, that you've come back home. You've rejoined your loved ones' arms, to all your close associates, and to the numerous individuals whose emotions your story affected."

Parental Resilience

During the initial segment of the ceremony, Illouz had dedicated all his efforts on comforting his smaller offspring. He tenderly caressed the strands of his female children, supported his male child, showed affection and gathered his emotions for them. But then his feelings emerged.

Cherished Memories

"I will yearn for so much journeying together through this country, sensing your presence, listening to your compositions, relaxing in mountainous areas and lighting the burner to create the drink the way only you understood – 'Papa, do you see the coffee foam? You have to boil it gently, let the foam rise, then heat it once more. Agitate the liquid with spinning actions' – and then your expression while enjoying the drink and your delight in every particular taste."

"Earlier than my exit Abu Kabir today, I honored my word. I looked at you, inhaled your essence one last time, and yes, I bestowed affection on the forehead. I was managed to observe your beauty even in the state in which you returned to us."

Ultimate Expression

"My dear son, I care for you deeply, I treasure you. I will long for you every moment and tiny segment of my existence. Find peace, my beloved son, relax after a travel of two years through unfamiliar realms to us. I hold you dear, my Guy-shuk, my beloved firstborn son."