Shlomo Mansour, oldest hostage killed by Hamas, laid to rest in Kibbutz Kissufim

Shlomo Mansour, 86, the oldest hostage held by Hamas prior to his murder in captivity, will be laid to rest on Sunday at Kibbutz Kissufim, where he lived for more than 70 years.

The Mansour family has invited Israelis to stand by the side of the road with Israeli flags as the funeral procession passes.

Mansour was abducted from his home during the October 7, 2023 Hamas-led attack on southern Israel. Hamas terrorists handcuffed him, beat him and took him by car to Gaza, where they later murdered him. His body was held by Hamas for 509 days.

He would have been 87 this month.

The kibbutz described his death as a profound loss, calling him the “beating heart of Kissufim.”

Mansour was born in Iraq in 1938. When he was three years old, he experienced the 1941 Farhud massacre in Baghdad, during the Jewish holiday of Shavuot.

“This is one of the most difficult days in the history of our kibbutz. Shlomo was much more than a community member to us—he was a father, a grandfather, a true friend and the beating heart of Kissufim,” the kibbutz said in mid-February when first learning of his death.

“His smile, modesty and human warmth were an inspiration to us all. Our hearts are broken that we were unable to bring him back to us alive. The entire community grieves his loss and is united in grief and pain.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, responding to news of his death, said, “My wife Sara and I extend our heartfelt condolences to the family of the late Shlomo Mansour upon receiving the heartbreaking news of his murder by the Hamas terrorist organization.”

Israeli President Isaac Herzog extended his support to the family and the Kissufim community.

“Shlomo was a talented carpenter, a modest and kind-hearted family and community man who radiated warmth and love to all those around him,” Herzog said.

On Monday, Itzik Elgarat, whose body was also recovered, will be laid to rest at the cemetery of Kibbutz Nir Oz.

The kibbutz said in a statement: "Itzik, who was kidnapped at the age of 68, came to Nir Oz following his brother and was a beloved figure in the community. For years he served the kibbutz with dedication as a gardener and was responsible for plumbing, gas and steam work. He was an integral part of the social landscape, loved to hang out at the local pub, host friends, and connect generations.

"Itzik left behind two children, a brother and two sisters. We will remember him for his laughter, his huge heart and his willingness to always be there for anyone in need. May his memory be a blessing."