Kibbutz says hostage Shlomo Mantzur killed in Hamas captivity

Kibutz Kissufim announces that hostage Shlomo Mantzur was killed while in Hamas captivity.

“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 in Kibbutz Kissufim in the Hamas terrorist attack on October 7, 2023,” the statement says.

The statement does not indicate when or how Mantzur was killed or how his death has been confirmed.

(Update: It has since been confirmed that Mantzur was killed by Hamas terrorists on October 7, 2023. He was 85 at the time; he would have turned 87 next month.)

“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,” they say.

“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. The entire community grieves his loss and is united in grief and pain,” the kibbutz says.

Mantzur was due to be released among the first phase of the hostage release deal. Hamas has said that eight of the 33 hostages included in the first phase were not alive, but has not identified them.