Four Hamas hostages – from elderly grandfather to kindergarten teacher – die in captivity: Israel

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Israel war 2023

by Alyssa Guzman

Israel said on Friday that four Hamas hostages – including an elderly grandfather and a kindergarten teacher – had died in captivity.

Kibbutz Nir Oz He wrote on his Facebook page Among the deceased, who all lived in her community: grandfather Aryeh Zelmanovich, 85; Kindergarten teacher and mother of four Maya Goren, 56, and photographer Ronen Engel, 54.

The Israeli army confirmed the killing of Eliyahu Margalit, whose daughter was just released from Hamas prisons on Thursday. According to The Times of Israel.

Israel did not say how or when the four died, but said they died while detained in Gaza.

This comes after a team of Ministry of Health experts [Abu Kabir Forensic Institute]Israeli army spokesman Admiral Daniel Hagari Hagari said that the Chief Rabbi and the Ministry of Religious Affairs announced their deaths based on the results collected and intelligence.

Zalmanovich was the founder of the kibbutz and a father of two children, according to a tribute leaflet.

“Aryeh has been a land man all his life, working with agriculture and field crops. A man of books who has a vast knowledge of history and knowledge of the country.

Goren was a “hardworking and dedicated teacher and nanny” who “lovingly cared for the kibbutz children for many years,” another post about the mother of four said.

Her husband, Avner Goren, was killed on October 7, the day the war began, according to Kibbutz Nir Oz. During the Palestinian movement’s surprise attack on Israel, kibbutzim such as Nir Oz were raided and many of their residents killed or taken hostage.

Engel was a photographer, MDA volunteer, and motorcycle enthusiast.

The kibbutz said his wife and two daughters were released from captivity earlier this week.

Margalit was taken on October 7 when he went to feed his horses in Ner Oz.

His daughter, Nili Margalit, 41, was released from captivity on Thursday, according to The Times of Israel.

Hamas released more than 100 hostages during the seven-day ceasefire in exchange for the release of prisoners from Israeli facilities.

The ceasefire ended on Friday morning, and fighting began again almost immediately.