TEL AVIV, Israel. The Israeli military announced on Sunday that it has recovered the remains of three hostages from the Gaza Strip, while a separate airstrike in central Gaza killed at least four Palestinians and wounded 22 others, according to a local hospital.
The hostages were identified as Yonatan Samerano, 21, Ofra Keidar, 70, and Shay Levinson, 19. All three were killed during Hamas’ October 7, 2023, cross-border attack that sparked the ongoing war between Israel and the militant group. According to Israeli authorities, Hamas continues to hold about 50 hostages, though less than half are believed to be alive.
The military did not disclose details of the recovery operation or whether it was related to the airstrike that occurred in the densely populated Nuseirat refugee camp, where Al-Awda Hospital reported the casualties.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed the recovery of the bodies and reiterated his government’s commitment to bringing all hostages home. “The campaign to return the hostages continues consistently and is happening alongside the campaign against Iran,” he said in a statement.
Kobi Samerano, father of Yonatan, shared in a Facebook post that his son’s remains were returned on what would have been Yonatan’s 23rd birthday.
The October 7 attack by Hamas-led militants left around 1,200 people dead in Israel, mostly civilians, and resulted in the abduction of 251 people. Since then, over half of the hostages have been freed through ceasefire agreements or other deals. Eight have been rescued alive, while dozens of bodies have been recovered.
Israel’s retaliatory offensive has killed more than 55,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which reports that women and children account for over half of the casualties. The ministry does not distinguish between civilians and combatants.
Palestinian health officials and witnesses have accused Israeli forces of firing on crowds waiting for humanitarian aid, including those in Sunday’s airstrike. The Israeli military has claimed it only fires warning shots at people who approach suspiciously.
Meanwhile, World Central Kitchen, the aid group founded by chef José Andrés, has resumed distributing hot meals in Gaza for the first time in six weeks. The organization had previously halted operations due to Israel’s blockade, which was partially eased last month amid growing concerns over famine.
The broader conflict has expanded beyond Gaza in recent weeks. Israel launched a surprise strike on Iran last week, which was reportedly triggered by the fallout from the war. The United States responded by targeting three Iranian nuclear sites, marking its most direct involvement in the conflict so far.
The Hostages Families Forum, which represents the relatives of those still held in Gaza, renewed its call for a deal to secure the release of the remaining captives. “Particularly against the backdrop of current military developments and the significant achievements in Iran, we want to emphasize that bringing back the remaining 50 hostages is the key to achieving any sort of victory,” the group said in a statement.
Hamas has demanded a lasting ceasefire, the release of Palestinian prisoners, and a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza in exchange for the hostages. Prime Minister Netanyahu has rejected those terms, vowing to continue the war until all hostages are freed and Hamas is defeated, disarmed, or exiled. He has also stated that Israel will maintain long-term control over Gaza and facilitate what he described as the voluntary emigration of much of its population, a plan widely condemned as forced expulsion.
Mediation efforts by the United States, Qatar, and Egypt have so far failed to produce a new ceasefire or hostage deal, as Israel continues to expand its military operations in the territory.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
