Israel has announced the recovery of the bodies of three hostages, two civilians and one soldier, from the Gaza Strip, as it continues to wage war in both Gaza and Iran.
The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) confirmed on Sunday that the remains of Ofra Keidar, Yonatan Samerano, and Staff Sergeant Shay Levinson were recovered during a special operation in Gaza on Saturday. The three were abducted by Hamas militants over 20 months ago during the group’s 7 October 2023 attack on Israel.
“In a special operation … the bodies of the hostages Ofra Keidar, Yonatan Samerano and SSgt Shay Levinson were recovered from the Gaza Strip yesterday,” the IDF stated.
The Hostage Families Forum said the return of the bodies brought “some comfort to the families who have waited in agony, uncertainty, and doubt for 625 days.” The group also renewed calls for the government to secure the release of the remaining 50 hostages believed to still be in Gaza, saying this was “the key to achieving complete victory”
The forum described Samerano as “a talented DJ who just wanted to make music, have fun, and travel”. Keidar, 71, had lived in the Be’eri kibbutz, a community that saw more than 100 of its residents killed during the Hamas attack.
Hamas-led militants took 251 people hostage during the October assault, which left 1,200 people dead. Israel believes that roughly 30 of those still in captivity have since died.
Some families of the hostages have expressed concern that Israel’s recent war with Iran, which erupted on 13 June, could divert attention and resources away from efforts to bring the remaining captives home. Over the weekend, the United States launched strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, a move that Israel welcomed.
Israeli President reacts
In response, Israeli President Isaac Herzog called for an “urgent release” of the hostages. “This brave step serves the security and safety of the entire free world,” Herzog said on X (formerly Twitter). “I hope it will lead to a better future for the Middle East and help advance the urgent release of our hostages held in captivity in Gaza.”
Not all are aligned with the government’s current approach. Some hostage families have openly protested the renewed Israeli military campaign in Gaza, which resumed in March after Israel declined to proceed with the second phase of a proposed ceasefire. That agreement might have led to a permanent end to hostilities.
Many of the families argue that only a ceasefire can ensure the safe return of their loved ones.
Meanwhile, the humanitarian toll in Gaza continues to climb. According to local health authorities, more than 55,000 Palestinians, the majority of them women and children, have been killed since the war began nearly 20 months ago.
Despite mounting international pressure, Israel has vowed to press on with its operations in both Gaza and Iran as it continues to pursue its stated objectives: the defeat of Hamas and the return of all hostages.
