Tel Aviv, Israel – The Israeli military has confirmed the recovery of the bodies of three hostages — two civilians and one soldier — in a special operation carried out in Gaza, as the region continues to reel from dual crises involving Hamas and Iran.
According to a statement from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), the bodies of Ofra Keidar, Yonatan Samerano, and Staff Sergeant Shay Levinson were retrieved on Saturday during a targeted mission. The three had been held captive for more than 20 months following their abduction by Hamas militants during the October 7, 2023, attack.
“In a special operation, the bodies of hostages Ofra Keidar, Yonatan Samerano, and Staff Sergeant Shay Levinson were recovered from the Gaza Strip yesterday,” the IDF announced.
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum welcomed the return of the remains, stating it brings a measure of solace to grieving families.
“Their return provides some comfort to the families who have waited in agony, uncertainty, and doubt for 625 days,” the group said, reiterating its demand for the release of the remaining 50 hostages. “This is the key to achieving complete victory.”
Ofra Keidar, 71, was a resident of Be’eri kibbutz — one of the hardest-hit communities during the October 7 assault, where over 100 people were killed. Yonatan Samerano was remembered as a “talented DJ who just wanted to make music, have fun, and travel.”
The initial Hamas-led attack resulted in the abduction of 251 individuals and the deaths of approximately 1,200 people. Israeli authorities estimate that around 30 of the remaining hostages are now presumed dead.
Tensions surrounding the fate of the hostages have been heightened by Israel’s deepening confrontation with Iran, which escalated sharply after June 13, following reported U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.
President Isaac Herzog addressed the hostage crisis on Sunday, urging global action and linking the ongoing military efforts to broader regional security.
“This brave step serves the security and safety of the entire free world,” Herzog wrote on X. “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.”
Despite recent military gains, some families of the hostages have criticized the government’s renewed offensive in Gaza, which resumed in March after Israel reportedly declined to move forward with the second phase of a ceasefire agreement.
These families argue that only a permanent ceasefire can secure the safe return of those still being held.
Israel’s military operations in Gaza have now surpassed 20 months. According to local and international health agencies, over 55,000 Palestinians—most of them women and children—have been killed since the start of the conflict.
