In brief
Shalom Nagar, the man who carried out the execution of Adolf Eichmann in Israel's sole case of capital punishment, has passed away in his late 80s. For decades, he lived in fear of retribution for his role in the hanging, which haunted him throughout his life.
On November 26, 2024, Shalom Nagar, who gained notoriety for his role as the executioner of Adolf Eichmann, passed away in Israel, with varying reports suggesting he was in his late 80s. Nagar was just 23 years old when he performed what remains Israel's only execution. The director Avigail Sperber confirmed his death, although details regarding his final moments remain undisclosed.Nagar was chosen unexpectedly for the execution of Eichmann, a key figure in orchestrating the Holocaust, who had been captured and put on trial in Israel. On the day of the execution, he left his home with his wife and infant son, only to be summoned abruptly back to prison. He recorded significant distress about the event, recalling how Eichmann requested white wine and refused a blindfold before the execution was carried out on May 31, 1962.The execution itself was a grim affair; Nagar’s task was to pull the lever that would send Eichmann to his death. The aftermath, which involved removing the noose and handling Eichmann's remains, left a deep psychological scar on him that he carried for years. Nagar remained silent about his past role for many years, fearing backlash from neo-Nazi groups, until a radio station uncovered his identity in 2004. His haunting experiences were later documented in the film "The Hangman."
