“We embrace Tomer’s household, the wounded, and the bereaved households, and proceed to hope for the return of Omri Miran and all 49 hostages nonetheless being held,” stated Kibbutz Nahal Oz.
Tomer Eliaz-Arava, a 17-year-old from Kibbutz Nahal Ozwho was murdered in the course of the October 7 bloodbath, will posthumously obtain Israel’s highest civilian honor — the Civilian Medal of Valor. President Isaac Herzog is predicted to current the award at a ceremony on the President’s Residence in about six weeks.
On the morning of October 7, 2023, Hamas terrorists infiltrated Kibbutz Nahal Oz, breaking into the Arava-Elikim household dwelling. Tomer was taken hostage and held at gunpoint. The attackers pressured him to knock on neighbors’ doorways in an try to lure them into opening. However Tomer, demonstrating extraordinary braveness, discovered a approach to warn the residents, telling them the properties have been empty — a heroic act that saved a number of households.
Born on September 22, 2006, Tomer was the third youngster of Dikla and Maayan Eliaz and the brother of Odin and Stav. In a tribute posted by Kibbutz Nahal Ozon Fb, he was described as “a boy with an enormous coronary heart, vigorous, who liked sports activities and his buddies, and was at all times there for everybody.” He was killed within the combating on the kibbutz, simply 17 years previous.
“His exceptional reminiscence stays with us,” the kibbutz wrote. “As a hero, as a boy who stood face-to-face together with his murderers and acted with composure. Above all, we are going to keep in mind his magical smile, perpetually 17.”
The publish added a message of solidarity with all victims of the assault: “We embrace Tomer’s household, the wounded, and the bereaved households, and proceed to hope for the return of Omri Miran and all 49 hostages nonetheless being held.”
President Isaac Herzog. (credit score: HAIM ZACH/GPO)
Ceremony on the President’s Residence
The medal was established by Herzog after the October 7 bloodbath in recognition of Israeli residents’ “acts of heroism” that have been revealed because the conflict started.
The ceremony shall be held on the President’s Residence on September 4, 2025.
Among the many recipients, lots of whom assisted in combating Hamas terrorists, is Malham As’advert, a Druze-Israeli who assisted Jewish Maccabi followers in the course of the violent assaults in Amsterdam in November.
Moreover, Yuval Kestelmen, who assisted in killing two Hamas terrorists in a 2023 assault and was killed by pleasant fireplace, will obtain a posthumous award alongside the October 7 victims.
That is Herzog’s second 12 months awarding what he has known as “the best civilian valor award.” Final 12 months, he acknowledged that the ceremony would proceed to be conferred by him and future presidents.
