Israeli forces have recovered the bodies of three hostages killed during the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack, the Israeli military and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Sunday, according to Reuters.
The victims were identified as civilians Ofra Keidar and Yonatan Samerano, and soldier Shay Levinson. Military officials said all three were killed on the day of the assault and their remains were later found in the Gaza Strip.
The recovery reduces the number of hostages still held in Gaza to 50, with only 20 believed to be alive, according to Israeli estimates.
Samerano, 21 at the time of his abduction, was reportedly kidnapped by an individual identified by Israeli authorities as an employee of the UN’s Palestinian refugee agency (UNRWA). His abduction was captured on CCTV footage.
The October 7 attack resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people and the abduction of 251 hostages, according to Israeli figures.
In response, Israel launched a sustained military campaign against Hamas in Gaza. According to health authorities in the Hamas-run enclave, over 55,000 Palestinians have been killed since the conflict began. The offensive has also displaced most of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents, triggered a worsening humanitarian crisis, and left vast areas of the territory in ruins, Reuters reports.
