Bodies of three hostages, including Shani Louk kidnapped at Nova music festival, recovered by Israel in Gaza

17 May 2024, 17:06 | Updated: 17 May 2024, 18:28

The bodies of three hostages, including the kidnapped Shani Louk, have been 'seized' by the IDF.

The three hostages were named as Shani Louk, Itzhak Gelerenter and Amit Buskila.

Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said the remains were discovered in an overnight operation carried out by the military and Shin Bet.

He said all three were killed by Hamas at the Nova music festival, an outdoor dance party near the Gaza border, and their bodies taken into the Palestinian territory.

Mr Hagari confirmed that the families of all three individuals had been notified of their deaths, following formal identification.

Footage of German-Israeli Shani Louk, 22, being paraded about on the back of a truck were widely circulated on social media after she was kidnapped.

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the deaths "heartbreaking", saying: "We will return all of our hostages, both the living and the dead."

The military did not give immediate details on where their bodies were found but local media have local media said they were found in a tunnel in Jabalia - north of the Gaza Strip.

Israel says around 100 hostages are still captive in Gaza, along with the bodies of around 30 more.

Mr Netanyahu has vowed to both eliminate Hamas and bring all the hostages back but has made little progress.

He has also faced warnings from the US to scale back its support over the humanitarian situation in Gaza.

Israel's campaign in Gaza since the attack has killed more than 35,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health officials.

In a statement, the IDF said: "Shani Louk, Amit Buskila and Yitzhak Gelernter were kidnapped and murdered by Hamas terrorists on October 7 from the Nova Music Festival.

"Overnight, our troops recovered their bodies and brought them back home to Israel.

"We will continue operating to bring all of our hostages home.

"May their memories be a blessing."

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum, which represents relatives of those who were kidnapped by Hamas, said in a statement: "The families of the 129 hostages and the Hostages Families Forum Headquarters bow their heads in deep sorrow and with broken hearts following the announcement of the murder of Amit Buskila, Itzik Gelerenter and Shani Louk.

"May their memories be a blessing, by Hamas terrorists.

"The IDF spokesperson announced today that the IDF recovered the bodies of the three hostages from Rafah: Amit Buskila (28) Itzik Gelerenter (57) Shani Louk (23).

"The three were kidnapped from the NOVA festival in Re'im and brutally killed by the terrorist murderers while they were dancing and celebrating life.

"The return of their bodies is a painful and stark reminder that we must swiftly bring back all our brothers and sisters from their cruel captivity - the living to rehabilitation, and the murdered to a proper burial."