According to Israel, 23-year-old Shani Louk, who was abducted by Hamas at a music festival, was discovered dead.Following her abduction on October 7 at the Nova music festival by Hamas terrorists, a 23-year-old German-Israeli lady was discovered dead, according to the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
On Monday, the ministry said on X, the former Twitter platform, that “we are devastated to share that the body of 23-year-old German-Israeli Shani (Louk) was found and identified.”
On October 7, while Louk was in southern Israel for the festival, Hamas broke through the border between Gaza and Israel.
The foreign ministry statement said that Louk “experienced unfathomable horrors” after being abducted during the festival and “tortured and paraded around Gaza by Hamas terrorists.”The statement concluded, “May her memory be a blessing.”Videos from the scene showed that during their attack on October 7, militants closed off the festival’s entrance from both the north and the south. They then swarmed the vast area on foot.
After that, they surrounded the throng from three sides, opened fire on them, and drove them across fields to the east.What to know on Monday: Israeli troops are moving forward in Gaza; a “impossible” medical evacuation; and regional warnings
CNN reported earlier this month that Shani’s mother, Ricarda Louk, last spoke to her daughter to check on her safety after hearing rockets and alarms go off in southern Israel. Shani told her mum that there weren’t many places for her to hide during the celebration.
She was heading to her automobile when military personnel stationed themselves nearby and opened fire, preventing anyone from reaching or even leaving their vehicle. And that’s when they grabbed her,” Ricarda said to CNN, adding that although she wanted to see her daughter again, things seemed hopeless.
“Though things appear dire, I remain optimistic.” I hope they avoid using bodies as bargaining chips. I’m hoping she’s still around someplace. I attempt to believe since we have nothing else to look forward to,” she remarked.
Israeli rescue agency Zaka said that more than 260 dead had been discovered at the Nova festival site; however, CNN’s investigation suggests that the actual death toll may have been much higher.
Following the music festival attack, Louk, an Israeli-German citizen, was captured on camera appearing to be unconscious while lying on the back of a Hamas truck.
It’s impossible to tell if she’s dead or alive after the video, as you watched. In the days following the rampage, Louk’s mother spoke to CNN about how frightening it was and how scared they were.
In order to aid in her daughter’s release, her mother continued, requesting assistance from the German authorities. “It was a complete surprise, and I don’t really understand how such a brutal thing can just happen in the middle of the day,” Louk remarked.
They also returned other hostages to Gaza. According to Israeli military spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, there are currently 239 captives thought to be held by Hamas in the enclave.
Four hostages have been freed: an 85-year-old Israeli woman and her 79-year-old friend, as well as an American mother and her daughter.
Benjamin Netanyahu, the prime minister of Israel, is facing mounting pressure from the families of the hostages to reach a “comprehensive deal” that would guarantee their release. Concerns over what Israel’s growing ground operations would entail for the safety of hostages held in Gaza are making these calls more urgent.
When Netanyahu visited with the families of the hostages on Saturday in Tel Aviv, they pressed him to ensure the release of the captives as Israel’s onslaught intensified and sought information about the safety of their loved ones.
Meirav Leshem Gonen, the mother of Romi Gonen, who was abducted from the festival, spoke on behalf of the families at a press conference after the meeting. “We spoke bluntly and made it clear to the prime minister in no uncertain terms that a comprehensive deal based on the ‘everyone for everyone’ principle is a deal the families would consider and has the support of entire Israel,” Gonen said.
Under a “everyone for everyone” agreement, the hostages would be freed in return for Palestinians—roughly 6,630, according to the humanitarian organisation Palestinian Prisoners Club—who are presently detained in Israeli prisons.
