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Hannah Katzir, who was abducted from Kibbutz Nir Oz in southern Israel during Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023, massacre and freed in November of that year as part of a hostage exchange with Hamas, died on Monday night at the age of 78, the kibbutz confirmed on Tuesday.
“With deep sorrow, we announce the passing of our member, Hannah Katzir of blessed memory, following a prolonged battle with complex medical complications after her release from captivity,” the statement read.
Her funeral is scheduled for Tuesday at 4 p.m. in Kibbutz Nir Oz.
Katzir’s husband, Rami, was killed during the Oct. 7 invasion. Their son, Elad, abducted alongside her by Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorists, was killed in captivity in Gaza in January. His body was recovered in April during an Israel Defense Forces operation in Khan Younis.
Hannah was released on Nov. 24 as part of a hostage deal that freed 12 other women and children that day. By the end of the six-day truce on Nov. 30, a total of 105 captives had been released.
Days before her release, PIJ falsely claimed she had died in captivity. She had previously appeared in a propaganda video on Nov. 9, with the terror group later stating she would be freed due to humanitarian concerns.
Hannah’s daughter, Carmit Palti Katzir, recently testified before a Knesset committee about her mother’s declining health following her release, as reported by Kan News.
“My wife Sara and I are deeply saddened by the passing of Hannah Katzir, of blessed memory, a survivor of Hamas captivity, who passed away after a year-long battle for her life,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement on Tuesday.
“We succeeded in bringing Hannah home, who was brutally kidnapped by Hamas on Oct. 7, but her body and soul carried the scars of horror until her last day. We embrace the Katzir family and are committed to doing everything in our power and continuing to work tirelessly until we bring all our hostages home,” Netanyahu continued.
Currently, 100 hostages remain in Gaza, including 96 taken on Oct. 7. Israeli estimates suggest that 64 of the captives are alive.
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