Bereaved father said son’s body, but not his head, was returned from Gaza


Amri Zini was told the effort to recover the missing remains was never defined as an official mission, meaning no structured search was underway.

By Vered Weiss, World Israel News

Amir Zini says the war is not over for his family, even after the burial of his son in Israel, Arutz Sheva reports.

Nirel Zini was killed on Oct. 7 together with Niv Raviv, whom he had planned to propose to days later. He was laid to rest, but Amir Zini later discovered that his son had been buried without his head.

He said he learned this only after insisting on seeing photographic evidence and pressing authorities for answers.

For nearly two years, Zini chose not to speak publicly, believing families without graves faced an even harsher reality. He eventually shared his account after encouragement from a neighbor, Brig. Gen. (res.) Oren Solomon, and later raised the issue at the Knesset.

Zini said investigators from Lahav 433 were aware early on that part of the body was missing but did not notify the family or formally relay the information.

When he asked whether the details had been passed to the Shin Bet or the military, he said he received inconsistent explanations, including claims that the matter had only been conveyed verbally.

By the time Zini understood the situation, the large forensic identification unit that had collected and identified remains after Oct. 7 had already been released.

He was told the effort to recover the missing remains was never defined as an official mission, meaning no structured search was underway.

Zini began going daily to the site in Be’eri where his son’s body had been found, arriving before dawn with relatives and volunteers to sift through soil. On some days, a tractor was used to turn over small sections of ground, with the earth carefully returned afterward.

He contacted officials including Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana and government hostage coordinator Gal Hirsch seeking assistance. At one point, a police officer joined him on a personal day to help search, but nothing was found.

Zini said he believes terrorists removed the head to use for leverage. He noted another victim, Aviad Edri, was found in similar condition nearby.

“No soldier should risk their lives to bring the head, but it should be a mission,” Zini said. “What is not ordered will not be done.”