Elia (Eliyahu) Iluz, 27, from Ashkelon, was murdered by Hamas terrorists at the Supernova music festival on October 7.
When the Hamas attack began, Elia sought safety with many other partygoers inside a temporary police caravan set up at the site of the rave. He spent much of the morning on the phone with his mother, updating her on the situation and warning her of the terrorists closing in. At 9:10 a.m., he was shot and wounded in his shoulder, and a paramedic tied a tourniquet on his arm.
Not long afterward, Elia shouted that they were shooting at him and the connection with his mother was cut off. For three days she searched for any word or sign of him, until she was informed that his body had been identified.
Elia was buried on October 10 in Ashkelon. He is survived by his son, Lavi Michael, his girlfriend, Mor, his mother, Batsheva, and his older siblings Osher, Aviv and Libat. His father, Michael, died when he was 2 years and four months old — the same age Lavi was when Elia was killed.
Born and raised in Ashkelon, Elia was the youngest of four, attending local schools, including a religious high school. During his mandatory military service, Elia served in a number of logistical roles in the ground forces, according to a state eulogy.
After his release, Elia worked in a number of fields, but always dreamed of exploring a career as a DJ. In 2023 he completed a DJ course at the Just Music academy and he began working professionally as DJ Illusion, advertising himself as available for parties and other events. He also loved to travel around the world, visiting many locales including Dubai, Vienna, Thailand, Turkey, Greece, Serbia, Singapore, Amsterdam and more.
He met Mor and their relationship developed, and in June 2021 their son Lavi was born. In an Instagram post marking Lavi’s 2nd birthday, Elia wrote that “you are the best thing I could ever ask for, and every moment with you is just light and joy,” wishing that “we will experience many more moments of laughter and happiness together.”
Marking 11 months since he was killed, Mor wrote on Facebook that with each passing day, “the pain only grows stronger, the longing, your absence… I keep going to call you, to wish you a good week, and to ask you how Shabbat was.”
Mor wrote that “I know you are with us, I feel you right here with us, eating and traveling as always… We’ll do everything for you to be happy and so proud of us. For the whole world to know who you were! With the purest heart, the person who would always help and forgive others, always smile.”
Elia’s mother, Batsheva, told Maariv that “Elia was connected to music since he was born, he tried out many different industries but music was always burning inside him, whether at parties and concerts, he had DJ friends he would spend time with and he wanted to learn the profession.”
In his memory, she said, his family and friends sponsored a DJ course for at-risk youth, something they are certain Elia would have wanted.
When he finished his studies, Batsheva said, “I told Elia that if he has the passion, he will accomplish his dream, and even if it was hard along the way he will overcome it and succeed… his dream had just started and was cut short.”
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