85-year-old captive killed on Oct 7, not in Hamas captivity, IOF admit
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Mansour, a founding member of Kibbutz Kissufim, was among the 33 captives set to be released in the initial phase of the ongoing ceasefire deal.
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Boaz Atzili, cousin of Aviv Atzili, one of the settlers killed in Kibbutz Nir Oz during the October 7, 2023, events, speaks during a press conference calling for action to secure the release of the Israeli captives, outside the Israeli Security Ministry headquarters in Tel Aviv on February 8, 2025. (AFP)
Israeli authorities announced on Tuesday that Shlomo Mansour, believed to be the oldest captive still held by the Palestinian Resistance in Gaza, was killed on October 7, 2023, and not while being held captive by Hamas.
Kibbutz Kissufim stated Tuesday morning that Mansour, 85, had been killed but did not provide details on the circumstances surrounding his death. The Israeli military later confirmed that it had notified his family of his death during the October 7 events.
According to the military, Mansour was killed in Kibbutz Kissufim, and his body was taken by Palestinian fighters to Gaza, where it remains. His death was officially declared by a panel of health experts and members of the rabbinate, based on intelligence that Israeli authorities say was gathered in recent months.
The families of the Israeli captives in Gaza had confirmed that Mansour should have returned long ago for burial, but Netanyahu is busy obstructing the deal.
Mansour, a founding member of Kibbutz Kissufim, was among the 33 captives set to be released in the initial phase of the ongoing ceasefire deal. Hamas has stated that eight of the 33 are no longer alive but has not disclosed their identities. On March 1, the 42nd day of the ceasefire’s first stage, Hamas is expected to return the bodies of the eight deceased captives.
Following Tuesday’s announcement, "Israel" has now confirmed the deaths of 36 out of the 76 captives still held in Gaza.
Kibbutz Kissufim urged the Israeli government and world leaders to "continue acting with determination to bring back" all captives, both living and dead.
In a related context, a small group of protesters blocked the Route 1 Tel Aviv-al-Quds highway on Tuesday morning, urging the Israeli government to safeguard the captive release deal. Some demonstrators held a large banner reading, "Abandoning the hostages is a war crime," while others set off smoke bombs and chanted slogans.
Meanwhile, tensions surrounding the fragile ceasefire agreement reached last month between Hamas and "Israel" escalated on Tuesday, a day after the Palestinian group threatened to delay the release of Israeli captives scheduled for Saturday, accusing "Israel" of violating the deal.
In response, US President Donald Trump warned on Monday that "all hell" would break loose if all Israeli captives were not released from Gaza within the coming days—a threat that Hamas said "further complicates matters."
