Eli, the father of hostage and fallen soldier Idan Shtivi, told ynet following his recovery that "Yesterday I flew on a delegation to talk about Idan, I landed and immediately boarded a flight back after they informed me about his return. They took me back on the same plane, saying there were findings from parts of Idan's body. That it was certain. I had hope he would return alive, yesterday morning I was still praying he was alive. I thought he was alive." According to him, when the rest of the family sat shiva for Idan after learning he was not alive, he refused to join because he hoped his son was still alive.