Woman with ties to Ottawa killed in Israel conflict

The Jewish Federation of Ottawa has confirmed Adi Vital-Kaploun, who has family ties to Ottawa, was killed in the Hamas attacks inIsrael.

Thefederation spokeon behalf of Vital-Kaploun's familyWednesday afternoon.

Andrea Freedman, president and CEO of the Jewish Federation of Ottawa, read a statement from the family of Vital-Kaploun.

"Our family lost a mother, a wife, a sister, a daughter, a granddaughter, a niece, a cousin," Freedmansaid. "Her children are miraculously home and safe.

"She was murdered by terrorists in her home, just for being Jewish."

WATCH | Jewish federationdelivers statement on woman with Ottawa tieskilled in Israel:

Ottawa Jewish federation issues statement on Ottawa woman killed in Israel

11 months ago

Duration 7:38

Jewish Federation of Ottawa CEO Andrea Freedman delivers a statement on behalf of the family of a woman who was killed during the conflict in Israel.

Freedman said Vital-Kaploun, 33,was a prouddual citizen of Canada and Israel from anOttawa family with deep community ties. Vital-Kaploungrew up andlived in Israel but had a large extendedfamily in Ottawa,Freedman said.

At the request of the family, Freedman said she would not be taking any questions on the circumstances of the deathbut clarified Vital-Kaplounwas killed onher kibbutz, a communal farm.

The burial will take place in Israel, Freedman said.

Mayor spoke to family

Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe said he hadbeen in touch with a family in the city who'dlost a loved one to the conflict in Israel.

"Yesterday I spoke with someone who has lost a family member in Israel, someone who was killed by the terrorists," Sutcliffe told reporters during a scrum atcity hall Wednesday morning.

"It breaks my heart to see what's happening there," he said. "My thoughts are with all of the victims and all of the families in Ottawa who have been affected by what's been happening."

'It hits very close to home,' Sutcliffe says of Ottawa family who lost loved one in Israel

11 months ago

Duration 0:43

Speaking to reporters Wednesday, Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe said he'd spoken with the family of someone who was killed in the Hamas attacks in Israel.

Sutcliffelater posted to X, formerly known as Twitter,that Vital-Kaploun was the granddaughter of longtime ByWard Market shopowner Irving Rivers.

The Irving Rivers store, locatedat the intersection of York Streetand ByWard Market Square, has been in business for more than 70 years.

Two Canadians are confirmed dead, and a third is presumed dead as a result of the conflict, according to Foreign Affairs Minister Mlanie Joly.

Global Affairs Canada has not confirmed Vital-Kaploun's identity.

Currently, 4,227 Canadians are registeredin Israel with the federalgovernment's registry ofCanadians abroad, and another 475 are registered in the Palestinian territories, according to Global Affairs Canada.

Joly's comments come after the Palestinian militant group Hamas staged an attack on Israel last weekend, firing rockets, killing civilians and taking hostages.

The attack prompted Israel to declare war on Hamas with attacks of its own. Israel has also ordered what it has described as a complete siege of Gaza, blocking everything from electricity and fuel to food and water from entering.

According to Rabbi Idan Scher with Congregation Machzikei Hadas,Vital-Kaplounwas a Canadian citizen and has a large family in the city.

Scher said she grew up attending summer camp with her many cousins and friends in Ottawa, but would not comment further on what he described as a "painful death."