Israeli family's grim discovery as dad, 86, killed before body abducted by Hamas

The IDF has confirmed Schlomo Mansour, 86, was killed successful Kibbutz Kissufim earlier his remains were taken to Gaza, wherever they are presently being held by Hamas militants

An aged Israeli antheral who was thought to person been abducted by Hamas was really killed successful the terror group's convulsive October 7 assault, officials person confirmed.

The household of Schlomo Mansour person believed for much than a twelvemonth that the 86-year-old was among the dozens of Israelis taken hostage connected October 7, 2023. They had held retired anticipation until precocious that helium would beryllium among those returned to the state pursuing the Israeli state's ceasefire statement with Hamas, with a dependable trickle of hostages heading backmost to the state since January 19.

But the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) confirmed this week that the antheral was "killed connected the precise archetypal day" of the fearfulness attacks astatine Kibbutz Kissufim. His household was besides horrified to observe that, portion helium was killed aboriginal on, helium was not spared from Hamas' hostage taking, arsenic his assemblage remains successful Gaza.

The IDF said successful a connection earlier this week that Mr Mansour was "murdered by Hamas terrorists connected October 7", adding: "His assemblage is inactive being held hostage successful Gaza." The connection from apical Israeli officials added: "There are nary words."

The Times of Israel reported that the 86-year-old's decease was declared by "a sheet of wellness experts and members of the rabbinate" based connected grounds compiled by the IDF.

The dad's loved ones person said the quality is "hard to accept", arsenic they had held retired anticipation for months that helium would beryllium among those released backmost to Israel. Hadassah Lazar, his sister, said everyone "thought helium would travel back" and remembered her member arsenic a bright-eyed root of strength.

She said: "We thought helium would travel back, but God had different plans. I ever said helium gave maine spot with his grin and his agleam eyes. It’s hard to judge that helium has been gone since October 7, that helium was killed connected the precise archetypal day." Confirmation of the decease has besides reached Israel's highest office, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu penning a connection to Mr Mansour's household connected X, formerly Twitter.

He said helium and his woman extended their "heartfelt condolences to the household of the precocious Shlomo Mansour", adding helium was "one of the builders of the state and the founders of Kibbutz Kissufim". Netanyahu besides pledged to enactment "tirelessly" to instrumentality Mr Mansour's remains to Israel.

He said: "We volition not remainder oregon beryllium soundless until helium is returned to the sedate of Israel. We volition proceed to enactment resolutely and tirelessly until we instrumentality each of our hostages – some surviving and dead."