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Hanna Katzir (Hebrew: חנה קציר; 1948 – December 23, 2024) was an Israeli kindergarten teacher who was abducted during the Nir Oz attack led by Hamas on 7 October 2023. She was released after 49 days in captivity. Katzir died on 23 December 2024, due to health complications resulting from her detention.
Hanna Katzir | |
|---|---|
חנה קציר | |
 | |
| Born | 1948 |
| Died | 23 December 2024 (aged 78) |
| Occupation | Kindergarten teacher |
| Known for | Israel–Hamas war hostage crisis |
| Children | 3 |
Katzir worked as a caretaker and a kindergarten teacher at Nir Oz, a kibbutz in northwestern Negev. She was involved in the kibbutz community alongside her husband, Avraham Katzir.[1][2] They had three children..[1]
Captivity in Gaza
On October 7, 2023, she was abducted by Hamas during the Nir Oz attack.[1] Her husband was killed during the assault, and her son Elad was also abducted.[1][3] Her son was killed in captivity and his body was returned to Israel.[4]
During her captivity in the Gaza Strip, Katzir, who required assistance to walk, was seen in a wheelchair.[5] She was initially held in isolation before being moved to join other captives.[1] The Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) claimed on its Telegram channel that Katzir had died, stating it had been willing to release her but blamed delays by the opposing side.[2]
Katzir was released on November 24, 2023, as part of a truce negotiated by Qatar.[1][3] Following her release, her health declined due to the conditions she endured during her captivity, which included insufficient medical care and inadequate living conditions.[1][3]
Death and legacy
Katzir died on December 23, 2024, due to complications stemming from her captivity.[1] She was 78 years old at the time of her death.[1] Her funeral was held in Nir Oz.[1] Her case highlighted the physical and psychological impacts experienced by individuals held hostage during the conflict.[1][3]
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a statement after her death, expressing condolences and acknowledging the impact of her captivity. He remarked, "We succeeded in bringing Hannah back home after she was cruelly abducted by Hamas on October 7, but her body and soul carried the scars of the horrors until her final day".[1]
The National Insurance Institute of Israel recognized Katzir as a victim of hostilities.[6] Israeli minister of labor Yoav Ben-Tzur noted her resilience during her captivity by Hamas and acknowledged the loss of her husband in the attack and her son Elad, who was killed in captivity.[6]
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