Former Hamas captive Hanna Katzir (77) has died after months of struggling with health complications at her hometown of Kibbutz Nir Oz on Tuesday.
Katzir was held as a hostage for around seven weeks in the Gaza Strip last year. Her passing is a reminder of the unbearable weight of trauma and captivity. Though she was freed from her physical bonds, the scars of her ordeal lingered, a constant reminder of the darkest moments of her life.
Katzir was kidnapped from her home in the kibbutz during the Hamas onslaught of October 7, 2023. She was released on November 24 as part of the negotiated temporary ceasefire deal.
Immediately after her release, the family alleged that she returned to extremely poor health. Her daughter Carmit Palty Katzir told in an interview that, "my mother's condition is serious...She had no heart problems when she was kidnapped, but now she has severe heart problems due to harsh conditions and starvation."
Hanna Katzir's husband, Avraham (Rami) (79) was killed when hundreds of Hamas militants entered Israel from the Gaza Strip, killing over 1,200 people. Hamas took around 240 hostages during the October 7 attack.
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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed sorrow over Hanna's demise. "We were able to bring home Hanna, who was brutally kidnapped by Hamas on October 7, but her body and soul bore the scars of the horror until her last day,” he said.
On Tuesday, she became the first former hostage to die from the October 7 attack after release.
"Mom was a loving woman, wife and mother who gave nothing but love...Her heart could not withstand the terrible suffering since October 7,” said Carmit in a message sent out by the Hostages and Missing Families Forum.
Her family recalled that Hanna only learned about her husband's murder and her son's abduction after returning from captivity.
Hanna is survived by three children and six grandchildren.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed sorrow over Hanna's demise. "We were able to bring home Hanna, who was brutally kidnapped by Hamas on October 7, but her body and soul bore the scars of the horror until her last day,” he said.