ISRAEL KATZThe Israeli navy has stated an aged Israeli man was killed throughout Hamas’s 7 October 2023 assault on southern Israel and that his physique is being held hostage in Gaza.
Iraq-born Shlomo Mansour, 86, was kidnapped by gunmen at his dwelling in Kibbutz Kissufim. His spouse, Mazal, managed to flee.
The navy stated the choice to substantiate Shlomo’s dying was based mostly on intelligence gathered in current months and was permitted by an knowledgeable committee of the ministry of well being.
His title is on the Israeli authorities’s record of 33 hostages to be launched by Hamas in the course of the first part of a ceasefire deal that’s coming below rising pressure.
Thus far, 16 residing Israeli hostages have been freed in change for tons of of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails since 19 January. Hamas has additionally handed over 5 Thai hostages.
The remaining 17 Israeli hostages – two kids, one lady, 5 males over the age of fifty, and 9 males below 50 – are alleged to be launched over the subsequent three weeks. Each side have stated eight of these hostages are lifeless however not named them.
On Monday, Hamas warned that it might postpone the scheduled launch of the subsequent group of three this weekend until US, Qatari and Egyptian mediators addressed what it stated have been Israeli violations of the deal, together with delays in permitting in shelters and medical provides.
The risk prompted US President Donald Trump to suggest that Israel cancel the deal and “let hell get away” if Hamas didn’t launch all of the hostages by noon on Saturday.
Israeli defence minister Israel Katz stated Hamas’s transfer was an entire violation of the ceasefire settlement and informed the Israeli navy to arrange for any doable state of affairs in Gaza.
Shlomo Mansour was born in Baghdad and as a toddler survived the Farhud pogrom towards the Iraqi capital’s Jewish neighborhood in 1941.
He emigrated to Israel together with his household on the age of 13 and went on to assist discovered Kibbutz Kissufim, the place he labored within the hen coop and eyewear manufacturing facility.
On 7 October 2023, tons of of Hamas-led gunmen stormed the Israel’s Gaza perimeter fence and attacked many close by Israeli communities, together with Kissufim. They killed about 1,200 individuals have been killed and took 251 others again to Gaza as hostages.
Shlomo and Mazal – who had 5 kids and 12 grandchildren – fled to their dwelling’s secure room that day, however a bunch of gunmen fired on the door and have been in a position to break it open. Mazal hid within the rest room, however they discovered Shlomo, handcuffed him, and took him out of the home.
On Tuesday, the Israeli navy stated it had knowledgeable the Mansour household that he was then murdered by the gunmen and that they took his physique again to Gaza as a hostage.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated he and his spouse, Sara, despatched their heartfelt condolences to the household following the “bitter information”.
“We are going to neither relaxation nor be silent till he’s returned for burial in Israel,” he added.
“We are going to proceed to take decided and relentless motion till we return all of our hostages – the residing and the deceased.”
The Hostages and Lacking Households Discussion board, which represents a few of the hostages’ kin, stated: “We share within the profound grief of the Mansour household.”
ReutersOn Monday, in response to Hamas’s risk to postpone the subsequent hostage launch, the discussion board referred to as on mediators to assist restore and implement the ceasefire deal successfully in order that the remaining 76 hostages are introduced dwelling.
“Current proof from these launched, in addition to the surprising circumstances of the hostages launched final Saturday, leaves no room for doubt – time is of the essence, and all hostages should be urgently rescued from this horrific state of affairs,” it warned.
The Israeli authorities was livid on the emaciated state of Eli Sharabi, 52, Ohad Ben Ami, 56, and Or Levy, 34, who have been paraded in entrance of a crowd in Deir al-Balah earlier than being handed over to the Pink Cross.
An Israeli physician who handled Mr Sharabi and Mr Levy stated they have been in a “poor medical situation”, whereas a hospital official stated Mr Ben Ami was in a “extreme dietary sate and had misplaced a major quantity of his physique weight”.
In the meantime, the household of one other hostage, Alon Ohel, 24, stated on Sunday they’d obtained their first indication in 16 months that he was alive from Mr Levy and Mr Sharabi, who have been held captive together with him.
“Since his kidnapping, Alon has been held in harsh circumstances in Hamas’s underground tunnels, with out daylight or entry to fundamental human requirements,” an announcement stated.
“We now have been knowledgeable that Alon is wounded in his eye. Moreover, he’s being held in significantly extreme captivity circumstances, with critical meals shortages.”
The Ohel household additionally urged the Israeli authorities to advance negotiations with Hamas on the ceasefire deal’s second part, which ought to see the remaining residing hostages launched, a everlasting ceasefire, and an entire Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.
Greater than 48,200 individuals have been killed in Gaza because the Israeli navy launched a marketing campaign to destroy Hamas in response to the 7 October assault, in accordance with the territory’s Hamas-run well being ministry.