Sister of slain hostage: It would have better if he’d been killed on October 7

Merav, sister of slain hostage Itay Svirsky, says that she wishes he had been killed on October 7 instead of suffering through captivity before his eventual death.

In an interview with Army Radio, Merav says her brother “guessed that mom died but didn’t know for sure, and didn’t know about dad.” Both of his parents, Orit and Rafi Svirksy, were murdered by Hamas on October 7.

It is not immediately clear how Merav found out what her brother knew in captivity, but it is likely some information came from released hostages who were held with him in Gaza.

“It’s unfortunately that it didn’t end for him too on October 7. That way he would have been saved from 99 days of fear and death,” Merav adds. “He was shot by Hamas apparently out of their stress due to a nearby strike — the military pressure is endangering the hostages.”