The bodies of Itzhak Gelerenter, 57, and Amit Buskila, 28, were also discovered during an overnight operation in collaboration with Shin Bet, an Israeli intelligence agency.
The IDF has not disclosed the exact location of the recovery, but local media sources suggest that the bodies were found in a tunnel in Jabalia, located in the northern part of the Gaza Strip. The three victims were attendees of the Nova Festival near Kibbutz Re'im on October 7, one of the initial sites targeted by Hamas during its deadly incursion into Israel.
Daniel Hagari, an IDF spokesperson, confirmed that the families of the deceased have been informed following formal identification. The Hostages Families Forum Headquarters, an organization representing the relatives of the kidnapped citizens, expressed their profound sorrow and grief at the news.
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In a statement to MailOnline, the organization said, "The families of the 129 hostages and the Hostages Families Forum Headquarters bow their heads in deep sorrow and with broken hearts following the announcement of the murder of Shani Louk, Itzik Gelernter, and Amit Buskila, may their memories be a blessing, by Hamas terrorists."
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The statement further emphasized the urgent need to bring back all the hostages, both living and dead, from their cruel captivity. The return of the bodies serves as a stark reminder of the urgency of this mission.
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Images of Shani Louk, 22, were featured on the front pages of newspapers worldwide after video footage surfaced of Hamas parading her semi-naked body in the back of a truck on October 7. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the deaths of the three festival-goers as "heartbreaking," vowing to return all hostages, both living and dead.
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Shani Louk was one of the 364 individuals brutally killed by Hamas at the Nova Festival. Her father defended the award given to an AP photographer who captured the chilling moment his daughter's body was paraded across Gaza by Hamas.
The decision to award AP photographer Ali Mahmud the oldest photojournalism award by Reynolds Journalism Institute last week sparked outrage. The award-winning photo depicts five armed Hamas members in a pickup truck, one of whom is resting his feet on Louk's lifeless, mutilated body.
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Despite the controversy, Louk's father, Nissim, expressed his support for the award, stating, "This is one of the most important photos in the last 50 years." He acknowledged the historical significance of the photo, viewing it as a symbol of the current era and a crucial documentation for future generations.
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However, Louk's mother, Ricarda, expressed her horror at the photo, stating that it forced her and her family to relive the trauma of their loss. She criticized the decision to award the photo, arguing that it felt like a celebration of the massacre.
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The IDF has been primarily operating in and around Rafah, the last standing city of the Gaza Strip, based on intelligence suggesting that hostages are being held there. On October 7, Hamas killed approximately 1,200 people, nearly all civilians, and kidnapped around 250 individuals.
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About half of the hostages have been released in swaps for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel during a week-long ceasefire in November. Israel estimates that around 100 more hostages are still alive somewhere in Gaza, along with the bodies of 30 more individuals.
Since the attack, Israel's campaign in Gaza has resulted in the death of more than 35,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health officials. Further updates will follow.
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