Shlomo Mantzur, 86, the eldest hostage in Hamas captivity, was expected to be released in the first phase of the hostage deal. However, the Israeli Defense Forces declared today that he was murdered on Oct. 7, 2023, and his body has been held by Hamas in Gaza ever since.
"With heavy hearts, we received the news this morning of the murder of our dear friend, Shlomo Mantzur, aged 86, who was kidnapped from his home in Kibbutz Kisufim during the Hamas terror attack on Oct. 7, 2023," the kibbutz statement read.
The Mantzur family stated: "We received the devastating news from IDF representatives about the murder of our beloved and cherished Shlomo. He was the cornerstone of our entire family. A man of high moral values and principles, a humanitarian who always helped others wholeheartedly. We call on decision-makers to make a brave and principled decision to bring all hostages home immediately – the living for rehabilitation and the deceased for proper burial in their homeland."
The Oct. 7 kidnapping
Shlomo Mantzur would have celebrated his 87th birthday this March. For over 70 years, Mantzur lived in Kibbutz Kisufim in southern Israel. It was his home, his safe haven – but on that Saturday, he was abducted from his house as his wife Mazal watched him being dragged away by terrorists.
Hamas terrorists bound him, beat him, and took him by car to Gaza. The terrorists who infiltrated Kibbutz Kisufim murdered at least 12 of his fellow kibbutz members and six Thai workers. On his previous birthday, his nieces Naama and Hadar Cohen said: "Close your eyes and imagine your grandfather sitting in Hamas tunnels, freezing with only an undershirt on his body, eating a quarter of a pita bread per day, thinking he's been forgotten. Our hearts break and there are no words to describe it."
The mustache that became his trademark, and the grandchildren who waited for grandpa
Shlomo and Mazal have five children and 12 grandchildren. Relatives described him as a peace-loving man, caring, sensitive, honest, and kindhearted. His mustache became one of his trademarks, and a family member summed it up: "I love and miss the tickling kiss with the mustache. I appeal to the world – help us bring back Shlomo and all the hostages with him."
Last Hanukkah, his family and community lit candles in a menorah he had built years ago. His daughter Batya said: "We haven't celebrated holidays for a long time; for us, there are no holidays. But Hanukkah is a holiday of miracles, wishes, and prayers, so we observe the holiday's commandments hoping our wishes might come true. Hanukkah is a holiday of miracles, but I expect decision-makers not to wait for miracles."
Speaking about attempting to rebuild their lives, she shared: "Since Oct. 7, we've moved between several residences, trying to build new lives – but you can't build new lives without a father. We're in a state of waiting."
The horrors he experienced as a child and the demand to embrace him again
As a child, Shlomo Mantzur survived the Farhud riots in Iraq. His niece previously recounted: "He witnessed with his own eyes the abuse of Muslim rioters against his family and acquaintances. Horrors that the mind refuses to process and the hand refuses to write. He immigrated to Israel convinced that no harm would come to him. He initially lived in a shack, and at age 15 arrived at Kibbutz Kisufim, believing the state would do everything to protect him."
His daughter Batya said: "It's not real until we see it happen. There might be a bit more hope, but the fear doesn't disappear; on the contrary, it's much greater because there's also the fear of disappointment, as we've seen what happened before. Dad should have been home long ago."
