Jewish Federation of San Diego's statement on slain hostages

Today, Jewish Federations mourn and pray for the families of Itzik Elgarat, Tsahi Idan, Shlomo Mantzur, and Ohad Yahalomi, all taken hostage from their safe rooms and homes in a horrifying manner by Hamas terrorists on October 7. Along with all of Israel, we are waiting for the government to positively identify their remains.

The last several weeks have been tragic in many ways, yet we remain amazed and proud of the resilience of the Israeli people as they stand strong during these times of grief. Jewish Federations stand in solidarity and pray with them during these times of mourning.

About the hostages:

Tsahi Idan, 50, from Nachal Oz in Sha’ar HaNegev—San Diego’s sister region—was taken captive by Hamas terrorists on October 7. He was abducted from his family’s safe room after his oldest daughter, Maayan, 18, was shot and killed through the door, which Tsahi had been holding shut. After witnessing Maayan fall, Tsahi let the door open. His wife later told the media that he was unable to function after seeing their daughter dead. Terrorists took him captive but allowed his wife and other children to stay at home.

Itzik Elgarat, 69, was trying to lock his safe room door when Hamas shot at the door, wounding Itzik. He was on the phone with his brother at the time and said “Danny, this is the end, this is the end.” Ninety minutes later, Danny saw on his phone that Itzik’s location was in Gaza. He later advocated for his brother’s release, and urged the public that if Itzik was dead, Hamas should keep his body and release a hostage that was alive.

Shlomo Mantzur, 85, was killed in his home on October 7, yet Hamas terrorists still took his body. Shlomo escaped the antisemitic, 1941 Iraqi Farhud massacre and emigrated to Israel, only to face another pogrom 82 years later. Married with five children and 12 grandchildren, Shlomo was a carpenter who “broadcast optimism and lived in the here and now.”

Ohad Yahalomi, 50, was a hero who sat outside his family’s safe room and engaged in a gun battle with the terrorists who took his wife and three children hostage on mopeds. Ohad was shot in the leg and taken into captivity separately. His wife and two daughters managed to escape from the terrorists, running for three hours in flip-flops. Son Eitan, 12, was released in November 2023.