The Israeli authorities announced on Tuesday that the oldest hostage in Gaza, Shlomo Mantzur, is not alive. He was killed 16 months ago during Hamas’ attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. After assessing intelligence data gathered in recent months, Israeli officials confirmed that his body was taken to Gaza. Mantzur, who was 85 at the time, is survived by a wife, five children, and 12 grandchildren. He had moved to Israel as a child after his family fled Iraq following the 1941 anti-Jewish pogrom known as the Farhud. Mantzur was a longtime member of Kibbutz Kissufim, where eight other members and six foreign nationals were also killed during the attack.
The kibbutz released a statement expressing their deep sorrow: “This is one of the most difficult days in the history of our kibbutz. Shlomo was much more than a community member to us — he was a father, a grandfather, a true friend, and the beating heart of Kissufim.”
During a ceasefire, 33 hostages, including Mantzur, were set to be released. However, Hamas announced that eight hostages on the list were dead, without specifying their identities. Since the ceasefire began in January, sixteen living hostages from the list and five Thai hostages not on the list have been released. The fate of the ceasefire is uncertain, with Hamas delaying this week’s planned hostage release and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly hesitant to negotiate a second phase.
U.S. President Donald Trump issued a warning, stating that “all hell is going to break out” if the remaining 76 hostages, around 30 of whom are believed to be alive, are not released by Saturday.
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