November 15, 2023
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On Tuesday, Israel’s Foreign Ministry announced the discovery of the body of Vivian Silver, a Canadian-Israeli victim of the October 7th Hamas attack.
At 74, Silver was a dedicated Israeli peace activist and leader of Women Waging Peace, known for her years of selfless service driving Gazans in need of medical care to Israeli hospitals.
Silver’s son, Yonatan Zeigen, confirmed his mother’s death on Monday to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), revealing that her remains were discovered at Kibbutz Be’eri, where she lived, more than five weeks after the October 7th attacks.
CBC reports that the family of Silver, originally from Winnipeg, initially suspected she was being held hostage by militants in Gaza for the past five weeks, along with over 200 others abducted on the same day.
The Jewish Federation of Winnipeg expressed grief over the death of Silver, emphasizing solidarity with her family and others still hoping for the safe return of their loved ones held captive by Hamas.
“Vivian was a civilian brutally taken from her home, and now we know, from all of us, forever. She was a renowned pacifist who tirelessly advocated for peace and the improvement of the quality of life for Palestinians,” President of the Jewish Federation of Winnipeg, Gustavo Zentner, shared.
Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mélanie Joly, expressed condolences, mourning the loss of Silver, highlighting her kindness, generosity, and selflessness. Additionally, Canada’s New Democratic Party leader, Jagmeet Singh, paid tribute to Silver, expressing sorrow and extending condolences to her family while invoking the sentiment, “May her memory be a blessing.”
