Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Sunday that Israeli security forces have recovered the bodies of three hostages held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
The operation, carried out by the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) and the Israel Defense Forces on Saturday, brought back the remains of Ofra Keidar, Yonatan Samerano, and Staff Sgt. Shay Levinson. All three were abducted and killed during the October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas.
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Netanyahu extended his condolences to the families of the victims, saying, "Together with all the citizens of Israel, my wife and I send our deepest condolences to the dear families and share in their profound sorrow." He also praised the commanders and soldiers involved in the mission for their determination and courage.
The prime minister emphasized that efforts to return all Israeli hostages continue alongside ongoing operations against Iran. "We will not rest until we bring all our abductees home—both the living and the fallen," Netanyahu said.
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Fifty hostages remain in captivity in the Gaza Strip. Jerusalem believes that at least 20 of the captives are still alive.
Samerano's father announced the recovery earlier on Sunday.
The recovery coincided with Yonatan's 23rd Hebrew birthday, which was on Saturday. In a moving message, his father recounted his unwavering belief that the army would bring his son back, and expressed deep gratitude to the Israeli government, security forces and the people of Israel for their prayers and support.
Yonatan’s family pledged to remember him always, honoring his memory and the light he brought into their lives.
Samerano was 21 on Oct. 7, 2023, when he was shot by Hamas terrorists and abducted by a U.N. Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) social worker.
He had been attending the Supernova music festival near Kibbutz Re'im with friends when the attack began. Attempting to escape, Yonatan fled to Kibbutz Be’eri, where he was shot and subsequently kidnapped.
Later investigations revealed that his body was taken into Gaza by Faisal Ali Mussalem al-Naami, a Hamas terrorist employed as a social worker by UNRWA.
For nearly two months, Yonatan was considered a hostage, but in December 2023, his family was informed that he had been murdered on Oct. 7 and that his body remained in Hamas’s hands.
Yonatan’s parents have filed a lawsuit against UNRWA with the Jerusalem District Court, accusing the agency of complicity in the attack and demanding justice.
