Kibbutz Kissufim announced on Tuesday the death of Shlomo Mantzur, who was kidnapped by Hamas on October 7, 2023, and was confirmed to have been killed that day, according to an IDF statement.
His family was informed that he was killed during the Hamas attacks. The terrorist organization has held onto his body in the Gaza Strip for 494 days.
“With a heavy heart, we kibbutz members received the news this morning of the murder in Hamas captivity of our dear friend, Shlomo Mantzur, 86, who was kidnapped from his home,” the kibbutz said in an official 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 Kissufim. This is one of the hardest days in the history of our kibbutz.”
The kibbutz also described Mantzur’s death as “a wound that will not heal.” They also demanded the Israeli government and world leaders “to act decisively to return all hostages – living and dead.”
The decision to determine his death was based on intelligence information collected over the past few months and was approved by a committee of experts from the Ministry of Health and in cooperation with the Ministry of Religious Affairs and the Israel Police, the IDF said.
Mantzur is one of 33 hostages set to be released as part of a hostage-ceasefire deal. While Hamas did not disclose the names of the killed hostages, it confirmed to mediators that eight bodies would be returned along with 25 living captives.
At 86 years old, Shlomo Mantzur was the oldest hostage currently in Hamas captivity. He was abducted from his home on October 7 in front of his wife and driven to Gaza in his own car by Hamas terrorists.
Mantzur immigrated to Israel as a child with his family after surviving the Farhud massacre in Baghdad, Iraq, in 1941.
Mantzur’s kibbutz, Kissufim, held a ceremony on the anniversary of October 7, paying tribute to those who had been killed or taken hostage. During the ceremony, the kibbutz members stated, “We are not speaking about him right now – we are speaking directly to him.”
A recurring theme in the ceremony and the ethos of Kissufim lies in its name, which means “to miss” or “to long for.”
Mantzur is survived by his wife, five siblings, five children, and twelve grandchildren.
Reactions from Israeli officials and organizations
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum announced they “share in the profound grief of the Mantzur family.”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shares the family’s grief for him and that “we will not rest or be silent” until Mantzur’s body is brought back to Israel for a proper burial.
Defense Minister Israel Katz gave his condolences to Mantzur’s family and said, “We will continue to work in every way to return all the hostages, living and dead. This is our moral duty and our highest priority.”
National Unity Party Leader Benny Gantz also gave condolences and said, “We had hoped to see the late Shlomo Mantzur return home. He was one of the builders of the land,” noting that Mantzur was one of the founders of Kibbutz Kissufim.
Israel President Isaac Herzog said, “I send all my support and strength to the Mansour family and the community of Kibbutz Kissufim, who have received the bitter and painful news of the murder of Shlomo Mansour, who was taken hostage on October 7.”
I send all my support and strength to the Mansour family and the community of Kibbutz Kissufim, who have received the bitter and painful news of the murder of Shlomo Mansour, who was taken hostage on October 7. About a month ago, I had the privilege of meeting his incredible… pic.twitter.com/SaGvDbOsIG
— יצחק הרצוג Isaac Herzog (@Isaac_Herzog) February 11, 2025
“Shlomo was a talented carpenter, a modest and kind-hearted family and community man who radiated warmth and love to all those around him. We will continue to do everything in our power to bring Shlomo home to be laid to rest in dignity, and to bring back all our hostages—both the living and the fallen—until the very last one,” he said.
Health concerns
At the time of his capture on October 7, Mantzur weighed just over 54 kilograms, causing extra concern for his health in captivity. Hostages who have since been released have spoken about the difficult conditions in Gaza, including the lack of food. This has caused many to worry about what his condition will be like upon his return to Israel.
In an interview with the Jewish News, Mantzur’s granddaughter, Noam Safir, said, “He is the glue of our family. We just want him home.”
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