Gaza Hostage's Parents Welcome New Son Two Years After His Death

Nira and Yigal Sarusi, parents of Almog Sarusi who was killed in captivity in Gaza, have welcomed a new baby boy named Lavi. The child was conceived using eggs the couple had cryopreserved 25 years ago, with a surrogate mother carrying the pregnancy. The news was shared by the mayor of Ra'anana, Chaim Broyde, who attended the baby's circumcision ceremony. "There was immense nostalgia. Tears. Pain. And something else: a baby who brings a huge smile to a family for whom the word 'life' has such a profound meaning," Broyde stated.

The Sarusis, both in their sixties, recalled the existence of the frozen eggs while mourning their son Almog's death. After consulting with their other children, they located the eggs and proceeded with surrogacy. The process required multiple attempts before a successful pregnancy was achieved. The family kept the pregnancy private until the recent ceremony in Ra'anana.

An invitation to the ceremony read, "A miracle happened to us. Thanks to a wonderful surrogate mother, a son was born to us on Yom Kippur. We will forever carry the pain for Almog in our hearts, but we are filled with hope that alongside this pain, we can rejoice in the gifts God has given us."

Almog Sarusi was abducted by Hamas terrorists from the Nova music festival on October 7, 2023. He was killed trying to protect his girlfriend, Shahar Gindi, who was also killed in the attack. Almog was taken alive to Gaza, and his body was recovered by the IDF on September 1, 2024, along with those of five other hostages who died in captivity.