The Israeli military has reported the discovery of the bodies of three Israeli hostages, including German-Israeli Shani Louk, who were killed by Hamas during the group’s attack on October 7. The bodies were found overnight by troops operating in the Gaza Strip, according to Israeli military spokesman Daniel Hagari.
Hagari revealed during a press conference on Friday, May 17, 2024, that the three hostages were killed by Hamas while attempting to flee the Nova music festival, an outdoor dance party near the Gaza border, where militants had massacred hundreds of attendees.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the deaths as “heartbreaking” and reiterated Israel’s commitment to rescuing all hostages, stating, “We will return all of our hostages, both the living and the dead.”
The Israeli military is actively conducting operations in Rafah, a city in southern Gaza, where it believes more hostages are being held. Approximately 100 hostages remain captive in Gaza, along with the bodies of around 30 more, according to Israeli sources.
Since the October 7 attack, Israel’s ongoing military actions in Gaza have resulted in the deaths of over 35,000 Palestinians, as reported by Gaza health officials. Netanyahu has pledged to eliminate Hamas and secure the return of all hostages. However, progress has been slow, and the Prime Minister is facing increasing pressure to step down. Additionally, the United States has warned that it may reduce its support for Israel due to the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
