In an overwhelming display of sorrow and solidarity, thousands of mourners lined the streets of Rishon Lezion on Sunday, accompanying the coffin of Shlomo Mansour, an 85-year-old Israeli hostage whose life was brutally stolen by Hamas terrorists. Mansour, a beloved resident of Kibbutz Kissufim, had been held in captivity since the horrors of October 7, when terrorists stormed his community, slaughtering civilians and taking others hostage. His body was only returned to Israel in February, bringing a painful sense of closure to his grieving family and nation.
The emotional procession, marked by the sounds of weeping and solemn prayers, was not confined to Rishon Lezion alone. Crowds also gathered in Jerusalem to escort Mansour’s family on their journey to the final farewell, which was set to take place at 12:30 p.m. in Kibbutz Kissufim—the very place that was meant to be his sanctuary but instead became the site of unthinkable horror.
A Nation in Mourning: President Herzog’s Heartfelt Apology
Israel’s President, Isaac Herzog, delivered an emotional tribute to Mansour, expressing profound sorrow and even issuing a plea for forgiveness. In a powerful statement, Herzog, speaking as a representative of the entire Israeli people, acknowledged the state's failure to protect him.
The coffin of murdered hostage Shlomo Mansour begins its final journey to Kibbutz Kissufim
— Aviva Klompas (@AvivaKlompas) March 2, 2025
đź“· Yael Gadot pic.twitter.com/vNgxPQ7MuM
“I ask you, Shlomo, for forgiveness,” Herzog lamented. “Forgiveness for our failure to protect you in the very place that was meant to be your fortress. Forgiveness from you, from your family, from the members of Kissufim, and from all the residents of the western Negev—for not saving you on that bitter, terrible day.”
His words struck a deep chord, echoing the collective grief and anguish of an entire nation that has witnessed unspeakable atrocities against its people. Herzog did not stop there—he issued a renewed plea for the immediate release of all hostages still languishing in Hamas captivity, their fate uncertain, their suffering unimaginable.
Shlomo Mansour is being honoured by the people of Israel, before being buried today. They have come out for every murdered hostage. I keep thinking I have no more tears left to cry.
— Heidi Bachram 🎗️ (@HeidiBachram) March 2, 2025
Then there are more. pic.twitter.com/SK3KIl6xG9
“The testimonies of the hostages who have returned—harrowing, searing testimonies—make clear just how dire their humanitarian plight is. How their lives are in danger. How time is pressing and demands urgent action,” he declared.
Until every hostage is brought home, Herzog insisted, “The Jewish people will not be whole. The State of Israel will not be whole.”
The coffin of murdered hostage Shlomo Mansour begins its final journey to Kibbutz Kissufim
— Aviva Klompas (@AvivaKlompas) March 2, 2025
đź“· Yael Gadot pic.twitter.com/vNgxPQ7MuM
Remembering Shlomo Mansour: A Pillar of Kibbutz Kissufim
According to a statement from Kibbutz Kissufim, Mansour was not merely a resident; he was a foundational figure, a cherished friend, and a guiding force in the community. The statement painted a portrait of a man deeply woven into the fabric of the kibbutz, a grandfatherly figure whose presence was a source of warmth, wisdom, and comfort to all who knew him.
“He was much more than a community member to us – he was a father, a grandfather, a true friend, and the beating heart of Kissufim,” the kibbutz’s announcement read.
The tragedy of his death—at the hands of those who sought to shatter Israel’s spirit—only strengthens the nation's resolve. His memory will not be forgotten, and neither will the atrocities committed on that fateful October 7.
We join the Jewish people in mourning H*ms' m**der of Shlomo Mansour, the oldest hostage. Today is his funeral.
— CIJA (@CIJAinfo) March 2, 2025
Shlomo survived the N*zi-inspired Farhud pogrom in 1941 Iraq & was considered a Holocaust survivor.
Shlomo was m**dered Oct. 7.
🕯️May his memory be for a blessing. https://t.co/ySQCaPZNLS pic.twitter.com/DihoIuCyoL
A Call for Justice and Remembrance
As Israel mourns the loss of Mansour, the echoes of his legacy will live on. His funeral was not just a farewell—it was a declaration that Israel stands united against terror, unwavering in its mission to protect its people and demand justice for the victims of Hamas’s ruthless barbarism.
May the memory of Shlomo Mansour, and of all those who were murdered on October 7 and throughout this war, be eternally cherished, their names forever inscribed in the heart of the Jewish people.
Zichrono livracha—May his memory be a blessing.
