Hanna Katzir, a 78-year-old Israeli hostage survivor who was released last year after enduring 49 days in captivity in Gaza, has passed away, according to officials.
Kibbutz Nir Oz stated that Katzir had been battling a “complex medical condition” for months following her release.
Katzir was abducted during the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which claimed the life of her husband, Rami, who was killed in their safe room at Kibbutz Nir Oz. Her son, Elad, was also kidnapped and later killed in captivity, with his body eventually returned to Israel.
Described by her daughter, Carmit Palty Katzir, as a loving wife, mother, and woman, Hanna succumbed to the emotional and physical toll of the events since the attack. “Her heart could not withstand the terrible suffering since October 7th,” Carmit said.
Hanna’s funeral will be held at Kibbutz Nir Oz on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, 100 hostages remain in Gaza, many feared dead, prompting renewed calls for a comprehensive agreement to secure their release.
