Eduardo González
The Spanish citizen Iván Illarramendi and his wife, missing since 7 October following the wave of attacks by the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) in Israel, and who were thought to have been kidnapped, were killed during the attacks, according to Israeli sources. The Spanish Foreign Ministry confirmed Illarramendi’s death, without providing further details.
Illarramendi, 46, a native of Zarautz whose whereabouts had been unknown since the October 7 attacks in Israel, was with his wife, Dafna Garcovich, a Chilean national and also deceased, in Kissufim, a kibbutz very close to the border with the Gaza Strip which was stormed by Hamas. According to sources, the bodies of Illarramendi and his wife (whose death was confirmed by the Chilean Foreign Ministry) were identified on Tuesday night, following the work carried out by the forensic experts who are working in the places attacked by Hamas.
Last October 9, the acting Foreign Minister, José Manuel Albares, reported that there were two Spaniards “affected” by the Hamas attack and two days later confirmed the death of 19-year-old Maya Villalobo from Seville, who was doing her military service in Israel and had dual nationality. Sources from the Israeli Foreign Ministry assured yesterday to the Efe and Europa Press agencies that Illarramendi and Garcovich were at no time kidnapped by Hamas and died in the attacks of this Islamist group.
“Appalled by the death of Iván Illarramendi,” wrote the acting President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, through the social network X. “I want to convey my affection and sincere condolences to his family and friends,” he continued. “The Government of Spain reiterates its condemnation of the Hamas terrorist attacks on October 7. We must work to achieve a just and lasting peace in the Middle East,” he concluded.
For her part, the leader of Sumar and second vice-president of the Government, Yolanda Díaz, expressed her “deepest condolences” to the relatives of Iván Illarramendi. “Hamas must now release the kidnapped civilians and Israel must put an end to war crimes and crimes against humanity. An immediate ceasefire is necessary so that there are no more innocent victims,” he stated through the same social network.
“Our hearts are torn by the news of the brutal murder of Ivan Illarramendi,” stated Rodica Radian-Gordon, Israel’s ambassador to Spain, through her official account on X. “He has been identified one month after the terrorist massacre committed by Hamas in Israel, along with his wife Dafna Garcovich,” she continued. “Our thoughts and prayers are with their families at this difficult time. May their memories be blessed,” he added.
For her part, acting Defense Minister Margarita Robles yesterday expressed the government’s “concern” for the fate of the between 170 and 190 Spaniards, including 80 minors, who have not yet left the Gaza Strip despite the reopening of the Rafah border crossing with Egypt. “The evacuation operation” is ready to assist them as soon as they cross the border, but for now it has not been possible, she told the press in Paracuellos del Jarama (Madrid), where she visited the Parachute Brigade (BRIPAC).
