Vivian Silver, a Canadian peace activist believed to have been taken hostage during the Hamas attack in Israel five weeks ago, has been confirmed as deceased by her son, Chen Zeigen. He says Israeli authorities informed him that the remains of the 74-year-old woman were found in the kibbutz where she lived and have only now been identified.
Zeigen stated that his mother was born in Winnipeg and moved to Israel in 1974. He emphasized that Silver dedicated her life to peacebuilding and fostering understanding between Israelis and Palestinians, even volunteering to help children in Gaza access medical care in Israel.
Global Affairs Canada confirmed that officials are in contact with Silver’s Canadian family members and are providing assistance.
“It is with deep sadness that the Government of Canada has learned that Canadian-Israeli citizen Vivian Silver is deceased,” Global Affairs said in a statement. “Our thoughts are with her family and friends at this difficult time.” The department previously confirmed six Canadian citizens died in the Oct. 7 attack, as well as a seventh person with deep ties to Canada, who was not a citizen.
Israel’s consul general in Toronto, Idit Shamir, announced on social media that Silver has been confirmed dead. Women Wage Peace, an organization she worked with, also posted about her death.
Silver’s son Yonatan Zeigen told reporters that she was taken hostage in Gaza and her phone was geolocated in Gaza. He recounted a phone call with his mother the day of the attack, during which they learned about the incursion by Hamas into Israel from the Gaza Strip and said their goodbyes before the messages stopped coming.