According to the Israeli military, an elderly Israeli man was killed during Hamas’s attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, and his remains are currently held hostage in Gaza.

Shlomo Mansour, an 86-year-old originally from Iraq, was taken by armed assailants from his residence in Kibbutz Kissufim, while his wife, Mazal, was able to escape.

The military confirmed Shlomo’s death after analyzing intelligence over the past few months and receiving approval from a health ministry expert committee.

His name appears on an official list of 33 hostages that Hamas is expected to release under the terms of a ceasefire agreement, which is facing increasing tensions.

To date, 16 Israeli hostages have been freed in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian detainees in Israeli prisons since January 19. Additionally, five Thai captives have also been released by Hamas.

The remaining 17 Israeli hostages, including two children, one woman, five men over 50, and nine under 50, are anticipated to be released within the next three weeks. Both parties have reported that eight of the hostages are deceased but have not disclosed their identities.

On Monday, Hamas issued a warning about delaying the release of the next group of three hostages unless US, Qatari, and Egyptian intermediaries addressed alleged Israeli violations of the agreement, such as delays in supplying shelters and medical aid.

This ultimatum led US President Donald Trump to suggest that Israel abandon the deal entirely and respond forcefully if all hostages are not released by noon Saturday.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz condemned Hamas’s actions as a blatant breach of the ceasefire agreement and ordered the military to be ready for any possible outcomes in Gaza.

Shlomo Mansour was born in Baghdad and as a child, he survived the tragic Farhud pogrom against the city’s Jewish community in 1941.

At the age of 13, he moved to Israel with his family and later became one of the founders of Kibbutz Kissufim, contributing his efforts in various roles, including in a chicken coop and an eyewear factory.

On October 7, 2023, hundreds of militants from Hamas breached Israel’s Gaza border and assaulted numerous nearby communities, including Kissufim, resulting in around 1,200 fatalities and the abduction of 251 individuals who were taken to Gaza.

On that day, Shlomo and Mazal sought refuge in their home’s safe room; however, gunmen fired upon their door and forced it open. While Mazal hid in the bathroom, they found Shlomo, restrained him, and took him away.

The Israeli military later informed the Mansour family that Shlomo had been murdered during the raid and that his body had been taken back to Gaza.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed his condolences, stating that he and his wife Sara were deeply saddened by the “painful news.” He added, “We will not rest or remain silent until we bring him back for burial in Israel.”

He affirmed the government’s commitment to tirelessly pursue the return of all hostages, both those alive and those who have passed away.

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum, representing some of the relatives of hostages, expressed solidarity with the Mansour family in their profound sorrow.

On Monday, the forum called for mediation to help restore the ceasefire agreement after Hamas threatened to delay the upcoming hostage release, which is crucial for bringing home the remaining 76 captives.

“Recent accounts from those released, combined with the distressing conditions reported by former hostages, stress the urgency of the situation—every effort must be made to rescue the remaining captives from this dire predicament,” it stated.

The Israeli government reacted angrily to the weakened state of Eli Sharabi, 52, Ohad Ben Ami, 56, and Or Levy, 34, who were displayed in public in Deir al-Balah before being handed to the Red Cross.

An Israeli doctor who treated Mr. Sharabi and Mr. Levy reported that their health was critically deteriorated, while a hospital official indicated that Mr. Ben Ami was severely malnourished, having lost considerable weight.

Additionally, the family of another captive, Alon Ohel, 24, revealed that they received their first indication in 16 months confirming his survival, thanks to information from Mr. Levy and Mr. Sharabi, who were also detained with him.

“Alon has endured brutal conditions in Hamas’s underground tunnels without daylight or access to basic necessities since his abduction,” stated a family statement.

Reports confirm that Alon has a wound in his eye and is experiencing serious shortages of food while being held under extremely harsh captivity conditions.

The Ohel family similarly urged the Israeli government to expedite negotiations related to the next phase of the ceasefire agreement, aiming for the release of the remaining hostages, a permanent ceasefire, and a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.

Since the onset of the Israeli military campaign against Hamas following the October 7 attack, over 48,200 individuals have reportedly lost their lives in Gaza, according to the health ministry controlled by Hamas.