The bodies of three hostages have been recovered from Gaza, the IDF has confirmed.
Israel’s chief military spokesman Daniel Hagari said the remains were discovered in an overnight operation carried out by the military and Israeli intelligence agency Shin Bet.
He named the hostages as Itzhak Gelerenter, Amit Buskila, and Shani Louk, who he said were killed at the Nova music festival on 7 October, with their bodies then taken into Gaza.
“They were celebrating life in the Nova music festival and they were murdered by Hamas,” said Mr Hagari.
He said their families have been notified.
“Our hearts go out to them, to the families at this difficult time. We will leave no stone unturned, we will do everything in our power to find our hostages and bring them home.”
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The military did not give immediate details on where their bodies were found.
Ms Louk’s body was seen face-down in a pick-up truck being paraded through Gaza in a video that was shared widely on social media after the hostages were taken.
Her father has said the return of his daughter’s body to her family has been a form of closure.
Nissim Louk told the Israeli newspaper Haaretz his daughter “radiated light, to her and those who surrounded her, and in her death she still does”.
He added: “She is a symbol of the people of Israel, between light and darkness. Her inner and outer beauty that shone for all the world to see is a special one.”
The Israeli military says it has recovered the body of Shani Louk from Gaza
In November, the brother of Ms Louk told Sky News of their last phone call as she tried to escape Hamas.
Speaking about the video that was circulated online after she was taken,
“I never thought I was going to be in contact with this type of video, seeing my sister in that brutal position,” Amit Louk said.
“And just in that moment, the whole family just crashed.”
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