The family of Shlomo Mansour, 86, the oldest hostage in Gaza, was notified that the 86-year-old was murdered in captivity, Kibbutz Kissufim, where he lived, announced on Tuesday.
“With heavy hearts, we kibbutz members received the news this morning of the murder in Hamas captivity of our dear friend. This is one of the most difficult days in the history of our kibbutz,” Kibbutz Kissufim said in a statement.
“Shlomo was much more than a community member to us – he was a father, a grandfather, a true friend and a beating heart of kisses. His smile, modesty and human warmth were an inspiration to us all. Our hearts are broken that we were unable to bring him back to us alive. This loss is a wound that will not heal, but our community will support and surround the family with all its strength.”
Born in Iraq, Mansour was a survivor of Baghdad’s 1941 “Farhud,” a two-day pogrom in which 180 Jews were killed, 900 homes destroyed and Jewish property looted. A carpenter and craftsman, Mansour was abducted from his home on Kibbutz Kissufim on the morning of October 7.
Mansour is survived by his wife of 60 years, children and grandchildren.
The announcement brings to 36 the number of hostages held in Gaza who have been declared dead based on intelligence.
The ongoing first phase of the ceasefire is supposed to see a total of 33 Israeli hostages freed over six weeks in exchange for up to 1,904 Arab terrorists imprisoned in Israel. The exact number will depend on how Israeli captives are alive. Hamas notified Israeli authorities in January that of the 33, eight are dead, but offered no evidence.
Mansour was on the list of 33 to be released during the first phase.
Since the first hostage release on Jan. 19, Hamas has freed 16 Israeli and five Thai captives in exchange for 583 imprisoned Arab terrorists.
The fate of the other 65 hostages will be determined by negotiations during the ceasefire’s second phase. Critics say the phased approach condemns these 65 hostages to open-ended captivity and undermines Israel’s war gains.
At least 1,200 people were killed, and 252 Israelis and foreigners were taken hostage in Hamas’s attacks on Israeli communities near the Gaza border on October 7. Of the 70 remaining hostages, more than 30 are believed to be dead.
