JERUSALEM (AP) – The Israeli military announced on Friday that it had recovered the bodies of three hostages, Shani Louk, Amit Buskila, and Itzhak Gelerenter, from the Gaza Strip. All three were killed by Hamas during its October 7 attack and their bodies were taken into Gaza.
The victims' families have been informed of the recovery. The Israeli military did not disclose where the bodies were found or provide further details on the operation that led to their retrieval.
Shani Louk, a 23-year-old German-Israeli woman, was identified after a piece of her skull was found following widely shared footage of her kidnapping at the Nova music festival near Re'im. Amit Buskila, 28, and Itzhak Gelerenter, 56, were also identified by authorities.
The Israeli military said that around 130 hostages are still being held in Gaza along with the bodies of around 40 others. Israel has been operating in the southern city of Rafah to secure their release.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed his condolences and promised to return all hostages, both alive and dead.
The October 7 attack by Hamas killed over 1,200 people, mainly civilians. Around half of the hostages have been freed in swaps for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel during a weeklong cease-fire in November. The Israeli military believes that around 90 hostages are still being held captive.
The families of the victims have called for their loved ones to be returned and for an end to the violence. The international community has urged both sides to return to negotiations and find a peaceful solution.
