The bodies of two Israeli hostages and a soldier have been successfully recovered from the Gaza Strip, as confirmed by Israel's Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu. The remains of Yonatan Samrano, Ofra Kedar, and Staff Sgt. Shai Levinson were retrieved during a military operation on Saturday. In his statement, Netanyahu expressed gratitude towards the commanders and fighters involved, praising their determination and courage in this critical operation.
This significant recovery marks a milestone in the ongoing efforts of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to bring home hostages. So far this month, the IDF has successfully recovered the bodies of eight hostages from Gaza. Netanyahu emphasized the dual campaign currently underway, stating that the efforts to return the abductees are occurring alongside military actions against Iran. "We will not rest until we return all of our abductees home - both the living and the dead," he declared.
The IDF has confirmed that the bodies were found on Saturday, though the exact location within the Gaza Strip has not been disclosed. Ofra Kedar, who was 71 years old, was reportedly killed at a kibbutz before her body was taken into Gaza. Staff Sgt. Shai Levinson, who was only 19, fell in combat while engaging with terrorists on October 7. His bravery and sacrifice during the conflict have been acknowledged by the IDF.
On Sunday, Kobi Samerano, the father of Yonatan Samerano, shared the news of his son's recovery on Instagram. He noted that the day of the recovery coincided with Yonatan's Hebrew birthday. "On his 23rd birthday, on the very day he was born, our Yonati was rescued in a heroic operation by the brave soldiers of the IDF and the Shin Bet," he wrote, expressing both grief and gratitude.
In the wake of this announcement, the Israel's Hostages and Missing Families Forum, which advocates for the families of hostages, extended their condolences to the families of Kedar, Samerano, and Levinson. Their statement highlighted the emotional turmoil these families have endured over the past 625 days. "Alongside the grief and pain, their return provides some comfort to the families who have waited in agony, uncertainty, and doubt," they noted.
The forum stressed the importance of continuing efforts to bring back the remaining 50 hostages. "Particularly against the backdrop of current military developments and the significant achievements in Iran, we want to emphasize that bringing back the remaining hostages is the key to achieving complete Israeli victory," they asserted. The message is clear: there will be no victory until every last hostage returns home safely.
