Israel announced on Sunday that it has retrieved the bodies of three hostages taken during Hamas’ attack on October 7, which sparked the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip. The Israeli military identified the recovered individuals as Yonatan Samerano, aged 21; Ofra Keidar, 70; and Shay Levinson, 19. These individuals were killed during the attack, and their bodies were subsequently taken into Gaza. Kobi Samerano conveyed on social media that his son’s remains were returned on what would have been Yonatan’s 23rd birthday.
The military has not disclosed specific details regarding the operation to recover the bodies. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emphasized Israel’s dedication to securing the return of remaining hostages, even as the country continues its military operations against Iran.
The brutal assault by Hamas-led militants on October 7 resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 individuals, the majority of whom were civilians, and led to 251 individuals being taken hostage. In the aftermath of this attack, the Gaza Health Ministry reports that over 55,000 Palestinians, predominantly women and children, have perished in the conflict. It’s important to note that the ministry’s figures do not differentiate between civilians and combatants.
Regarding the hostages, a detailed account reveals that on October 7, 2023, a total of 251 hostages were captured. Additionally, there are four hostages who were taken before the October event, including two individuals who entered Gaza in 2014 and 2015, along with the remains of two soldiers from the 2014 war. Out of these, 148 hostages have been released through exchanges or other agreements, with 8 of them having been deceased. Israeli forces have managed to retrieve the bodies of 49 hostages, while eight have been rescued alive.
Currently, 50 hostages remain in captivity, with Israel suspecting that 27 of them may be deceased. Prime Minister Netanyahu has expressed uncertainty concerning the condition of several others. Among those still held, four are non-Israelis: two Thai nationals and one Tanzanian who have been confirmed dead, as well as a captive from Nepal.