Israeli forces have recovered the remains of three hostages from the Gaza Strip. The military has confirmed that the remains belong to Yonatan Samerano, 21; Ofra Keidar, 70; and Shay Levinson, 19. All three were killed during a violent attack by Hamas militants on October 7, 2023, which marked the beginning of the current conflict between Israel and Hamas.
The attack by Hamas resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths, mostly civilians, and the abduction of 251 people. Currently, Hamas is believed to still hold around 50 hostages, with only 20 of them thought to be alive. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that efforts to bring back the hostages are ongoing and are part of a broader campaign against Iran.
Details about how the remains were recovered have not been disclosed by the military. Kobi Samerano, Yonatan’s father, shared the news on Facebook, noting that his son’s remains were returned on what would have been his 23rd birthday.
The Hostages Families Forum, representing families of the captives, has urged for negotiations to release the remaining hostages. They emphasized that securing the release of these individuals is crucial for any potential victory in the ongoing conflict.
Hamas has indicated that it will only release the remaining hostages in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners, a ceasefire, and an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. However, Netanyahu has rejected these terms, insisting that Israel will continue its military operations until all hostages are returned and Hamas is defeated.
In the course of the conflict, more than half of the hostages have been returned through ceasefire agreements or other arrangements, while eight have been rescued alive. Israeli forces have also recovered numerous bodies.
The war in Gaza has had devastating consequences, with reports indicating that over 55,000 Palestinians have died, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. This figure includes a significant number of women and children, though the ministry does not differentiate between civilians and combatants in its reports.