Inbar Lanir Dedicates Victory to Family of Murdered Hostage

TASHKENT, Uzbekistan — Israeli judoka Inbar Lanir dedicated her bronze medal win at the Tashkent Grand Slam on Sunday to the family of Itzik Elgarat, who was murdered while in Hamas captivity. Lanir, 24, achieved this honor in the -78 kg category by defeating Brazil‘s Karol Gimenes.

“I fought today to fly the flag in his memory,” Lanir said after the match. Her words illustrate the deep emotional connection she feels to Elgarat’s story, reflecting the impact of ongoing conflicts on personal lives.

Elgarat, a dual Danish-Israeli citizen, was 68 years old when he was abducted from his home in Kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7, 2023. Hamas militants infiltrated the area, shot him through the door of his safe room, and took him hostage back to Gaza. That day was marked by tragedy, as Hamas killed approximately 1,200 people and captured a total of 251 hostages.

The return of Elgarat’s body, along with those of three others, occurred on February 27 as part of a ceasefire and hostage-release deal between Israel and Hamas. In exchange, Israel released 602 Palestinian prisoners. Forensic reports later confirmed that Elgarat was murdered while in captivity.

Lanir’s victory at this international event is significant not just for her but also for the Israeli judo community. Alongside her bronze, Israel secured a total of three medals at the tournament: a silver won by Inbal Shemesh and bronzes for both Timna Nelson Levy and Lanir.

Elgarat was laid to rest in Israel on Monday. He is survived by two children residing in Denmark, and a sister, Rachel Dancyg, who also lives in Nir Oz and survived the massacre connected to his abduction.

Another notable performance during the Tashkent Grand Slam came from Olympic-winning judoka Raz Hershko, who finished in fifth place in the +78 kg category. The accomplishments of the Israeli women’s judo team highlight a moment of resilience and honor amid ongoing challenges.