Six Hamas hostages, including grandfather and kindergarten teacher, die in captivity
By Alyssa Guzman | Published Dec. 1, 2023 | Updated Dec. 1, 2023, 10:08 p.m. ET
Six Hamas hostages — including an elderly grandfather and a female kindergarten teacher — have died in captivity, Israel said Friday.
Kibbutz Nir Oz wrote on its Facebook page that the deceased, who all lived in its community, included: grandpa Aryeh Zalmanovich, 85; kindergarten instructor and mom of four Maya Goren, 56, and photographer Ronen Engel, 54.
The Israel Defense Forces confirmed those deaths and that of Eliyahu Margalit, whose daughter was just released from Hamas custody Thursday, according to the Times of Israel.
Also among the hostages who did not survive their time in Hamas’ clutches was Ofra Keidar, 70, who cared for her disabled adult daughter. She was abducted from Kibbutz Be’eri on Oct. 7 during an early morning walk, the kibbutz announced.
In a Facebook post Friday, Mor Metro-West High School in Ra’anana announced that one of its alumni, Guy Iluz, 26, who was kidnapped during the Supernova music festival near Re’im where more than 360 revelers were massacred by the terror group, had lost his life.
Israel did not say how or when the six died but said they perished while being held in Gaza.
Zalmanovich was a founder of the kibbutz and a father of two, according to a tribute post.
“Aryeh was a man of the land all his life who was engaged in agriculture and field crops. A man of books and has a wide knowledge of history and knowledge of the country,” the post read.
Goren was a “diligent and dedicated kindergarten teacher and nanny” who “lovingly cared for the kibbutz children for many years,” another post said of the mother of four.
Her husband, Avner Goren, was killed Oct. 7, the day the war started, according to Kibbutz Nir Oz. During the Palestinian terror group’s surprise attack on Israel, kibbutzes such as Nir Oz were raided and many of their residents killed or taken hostage.
Engel was a photographer, a volunteer for Magen David Adom, and a motorcycle enthusiast. His wife and two daughters were released from captivity earlier this week, the kibbutz said.
Margalit was taken Oct. 7 when he went to go feed his horses in Nir Oz. His daughter, Nili Margalit, 41, was released from captivity Thursday, according to the Times of Israel.
Hamas released more than 100 hostages during the seven-day cease-fire in exchange for prisoners to be released from Israeli facilities. The cease-fire ended Friday morning, and fighting almost immediately started again.
Additional reporting by Chris Nesi