JERUSALEM. The Israeli military has found the bodies of four Israeli hostages in Gaza, including those of German-Israeli Shani Louk and Ron Benjamin, who were killed during the Hamas attack on October 7. The retrievals were confirmed over two consecutive days, shedding light on the brutal events that transpired during the attack and the subsequent military operations.
On Friday, the Israeli military announced that its troops found the bodies of three hostages in Gaza, all victims of the October 7 assault by Hamas militants. Among the deceased were 22-year-old Shani Louk, whose body was shockingly paraded on a Hamas truck, 28-year-old Amit Buskila, and 56-year-old Itzhak Gelerenter. All three were killed while trying to flee the Nova music festival near the Gaza border, where militants massacred hundreds of attendees.
“They were celebrating life at the Nova music festival and were murdered by Hamas,” said IDF spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari during a press conference in Tel Aviv. The bodies were recovered during a joint operation by the IDF and Shin Bet, Israel’s internal security service, although details about the exact locations were not disclosed.
The following day, the body of Ron Benjamin was also recovered from Gaza. Benjamin was killed on October 7 at the Mefalsim intersection and his body was taken by Hamas into Gaza. Hagari noted the harrowing conditions under which these bodies were found, including some being hidden in tunnels.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed profound grief over the loss, stating, “The heart breaks for the great loss. My wife Sara and I grieve with the families. All our hearts are with them in this hour of grieving. We will return all our hostages, the dead and the alive alike. I congratulate our brave forces who, with determined action, have returned our sons and daughters home.”
Shani Louk’s family shared their emotional response upon recovering her body, stating that the IDF’s efforts have brought them some closure. “Every news like this brings us back to the horrific moment we had to find out that our loving daughter was brutally murdered by Hamas on the 7th of October. However, it is also a relief to get the body back and we are now able to bury her close by. It gives us some kind of closure,” the family said in a statement to CNN. They remembered Shani as a beautiful, peace-loving individual who brought light and hope to many.
The gruesome discovery of these bodies underscores the severe impact of the October 7 attack, in which Hamas militants killed approximately 1,200 people, primarily civilians, and abducted around 250 others. While about half of the hostages have since been freed in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, many remain unaccounted for. The ongoing conflict has claimed the lives of over 35,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health officials.
Despite various attempts to negotiate the release of the remaining hostages, progress has been slow. Recently, Hamas militants criticized Israel’s rejection of a ceasefire plan, claiming it hindered hostage release talks.
The Israeli military continues its operations in Gaza, determined to recover all hostages and bring closure to grieving families.
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.
