The tragic story of Efrat Katz, a grandmother taken captive during the Oct. 7 attack on Israel, has come to a heartbreaking conclusion. Israeli military officials announced on Friday that she was likely killed when an Israeli helicopter fired on the vehicle in which she was being held by terrorists.
The abduction of Ms. Katz, 67, from Kibbutz Nir Oz was captured on video, showing her cramped in the back of a pickup truck with her daughter and two grandchildren. The military’s inquiry into the incident found that the helicopter, responding to the Hamas-led assault, fired on the vehicle without realizing there were hostages inside.
Maj. Gen. Tomer Bar, the air force’s commanding officer, called it a “tragic and unfortunate event” that occurred in the midst of fighting and uncertainty. The helicopter crew was not found to be at fault, as the hostages were indistinguishable from the terrorists.
This revelation comes on the same day that Israeli military officials detailed failures that led to deadly airstrikes on a convoy of aid workers in Gaza earlier in the week. The incident has added to the anguish in Israel, where calls for a temporary truce and the release of more hostages have been mounting.
Hamas and other armed Palestinian groups took over 200 people captive during the Oct. 7 attack, with about 100 hostages, mostly women and children, being released during a cease-fire in November. Tragically, at least 30 others are believed to have died in captivity, according to Israeli officials.
Despite diplomatic efforts to secure another pause in the fighting, calls for a cease-fire have been stalled for months. The loss of Efrat Katz serves as a stark reminder of the human cost of the ongoing conflict in the region.
