Guy Illouz

Guy Illouz lived and breathed music. He was deeply immersed in the music world, as music and sound were rooted in his soul from a young age. With a studio set up in a shelter near his home in Ra’anana, Guy was the heartbeat of a vibrant musical sanctuary, sharing rhythms and beats with his friends. His expertise as a sound engineer and stage manager had him working alongside some of Israel's musical legends like Shalom Hanoch, Matti Caspi and rock band “HaYehudim” (Hebrew for ‘The Jews’). Diving into the world of electronic music, Guy began to carve out his unique sound, merging his past with the future of music.
His father, Michel Illouz, lovingly described him as a gentle soul, floating around, usually in his distinctive shorts, never quite aligned but always uniquely himself. Tom Petrover, lead singer of “HaYehudim”, remembers Guy as part of their family, a soul so sweet, charming and smart, and so talented that they had known since he was just five or six years old.
Music drew him in, especially the guitar. Guy picked up a guitar at age 7, and since then, it has been an inseparable part of him. He also had an amazing sense of humor, Tom shares, with perfect timing, and was incredibly funny. Guy was always there to lend a hand, the first to offer support. A boy with a heart of gold!
Driving to the party in Re'im in his white jeep with friends, only two out of a cheerful group of ten young people survived to tell the tale. On October 7, amidst the celebration of life and music at the Nova trance music festival, the unthinkable happened. As Hamas’s violent attack shattered the peace, Guy and his friends, in a desperate bid for safety, escaped the murderous attack and ran to their cars. Tragedy struck when they reached a terrorists' ambush, leaving Guy to flee for cover, wounded. Guy made an emergency call to Magen David Adom to report the situation, only to end up with a heartbreaking message to his parents, expressing his love in the face of imminent danger, bullets flying all around.
Eleven days after that dreadful Saturday, Guy's family was devastated by a Hamas video claiming his death among other hostages due to bombings. This news, though met with skepticism given the source's unreliability, plunged his family into despair, struggling with the unbearable thought of his loss. "This video turned me off completely, as if someone pulled the plug," Michel shares his overwhelming feeling.
After 20 days of agonizing uncertainty, definitive evidence emerged that Guy was held hostage by Hamas, a stark reality that left his family navigating between hope and despair. Michel lived in torment, haunted by their last conversation, the ambush, and the chilling message from Hamas, clinging to a sliver of hope for his son's life.
On Thursday December 30, the Illouz family received the grievous news of Guy's death while held in Hamas captivity. Maya Regev, 21, another Israeli kidnapped from the festival, confirmed the information upon her return from captivity as part of a temporary ceasefire agreement. Maya testified that Guy was hospitalized next to her in a hospital in Gaza. According to her testimony, he died from his gunshot wounds after eight days. Tragically, it is believed that his life could have been saved had he received proper medical treatment. Guy's death, initially uncertain, was now a painful certainty, his body held by the terror organization in Gaza.
Guy's sister, Ofir, mourned him as a precious, pure soul taken too soon, leaving an indelible void. Tom Petrover and Matti Caspi, among others, echoed this sentiment, celebrating Guy's life and the joy he brought to every stage, every moment, with his unforgettable smile and kindness. Guy's legacy, his music, his laughter, and his immense heart, will forever inspire those who knew him, a reminder of a life so beautifully lived, yet tragically cut short.
In tribute, Matti Caspi dedicated the beautiful song “Someone” (מישהו) to Guy and all hostages, expressing his love for Guy and longing for the moment when all remaining hostages come back home.
Let’s listen to Matti Caspi's song "Someone" (מישהו), lyrics by legendary lyricist Ehud Manor and music by brilliant Matti Caspi, and think of Guy Illouz:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2KJRr3CImA

Honor the memory of Guy
Guy was kidnapped by Hamas, and later his family was informed that he was murdered.