In a solemn announcement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed the recovery of the bodies of three Israeli hostages from the Gaza Strip. This significant operation took place on Saturday and resulted in the retrieval of the remains of Yonatan Samrano, Ofra Kedar, and Staff Sgt Shai Levinson. Netanyahu expressed gratitude to the commanders and fighters of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) for their determination and courage in executing this successful operation.
The IDF has reported the recovery of a total of eight hostages' bodies from Gaza this month alone. Netanyahu emphasized that the ongoing campaign to return all abducted individuals is operating in tandem with Israel's broader military efforts against Iran. “We will not rest until we return all of our abductees home - both the living and the dead,” he stated. While the IDF confirmed the bodies were recovered on Saturday, they did not disclose the specific location within the Gaza Strip where the remains were found.
Among the recovered bodies, Ofra Kedar, aged 71, was killed at a kibbutz, with her remains taken into Gaza. Staff Sgt Shai Levinson, only 19 years old at the time of his death, engaged in combat with terrorists on the morning of October 7, ultimately losing his life during the confrontation. The tragic circumstances surrounding these recoveries have deeply affected their families and the Israeli public.
On Sunday, Kobi Samerano, the father of Yonatan Samerano, took to Instagram to share the emotional news of his son's recovery. “Yesterday was Yonati'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, reflecting both pride and sorrow.
In the wake of these recoveries, Israel's Hostages and Missing Families Forum, an organization representing relatives of hostages, released a statement expressing their condolences to the Keidar, Samerano, and Levinson families. “Our hearts are with them today. Alongside the grief and pain, their return provides some comfort to the families who have waited in agony, uncertainty, and doubt for 625 days,” they stated.
The Forum highlighted the importance of recovering the remaining 50 hostages, stating that achieving this goal is crucial for a comprehensive Israeli victory. “There will be no victory until the last hostage returns,” they emphasized, underscoring the ongoing efforts and the emotional toll on those affected by the abductions.
