Father of slain Nova festival victim to run in Likud primaries

Eli Shteyvi, one of the leading figures in the families of the hostages movement and the father of Idan Shteyvi, who was murdered on October 7 and whose body was taken to Gaza, plans to run in the Likud party primaries. Shteyvi said the memory of his son, whom he called a “Hero of Israel,” reminds him every day of “the magnitude of the responsibility” and the mission he feels he has taken on since the Hamas attack.

“Since October 7 I have carried a moral duty not to stand aside,” he said. “From the terrible pain came the understanding that we must rebuild what connects us.” He added that he believes “the true legacy of our children is unity in the people of Israel,” above disputes, camps and differences, and said he intends to act in the public arena to connect people and communities and strengthen the mutual responsibility that holds the country together. “This is Idan’s mission, which accompanies me in every step, and this is the task I will dedicate my life to,” he said.

Idan Shteyvi was 28 and lived in Ganei Tikva. He was murdered on October 7 at the Nova music festival, and his body was held by Hamas. He left behind his parents, Eli and Dalit, three siblings and his partner, Stav.

According to the report, Idan came to the festival as a volunteer photographer after staying behind to help a group of people who had no way to leave. They drove away from the party and were then fired on by a terrorist squad. On October 7, 2024, exactly one year after he was abducted, it was announced that he had already been murdered on the day of the massacre. His body was later returned to Israel in a secret operation.