IDF Recovers Bodies of Three Israeli Hostages Murdered by Hamas

In a powerful and somber moment, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced the recovery of the bodies of three hostages who had been held in captivity by Hamas for 625 days. The victims SSGT Shay Levinson, Yonatan Samerano, and Ofra Keidar were all brutally abducted during Hamas’s infamous October 7, 2023 terrorist attack on Israel.

Keidar, a 71-year-old mother of three, was kidnapped from Kibbutz Be’eri after Hamas terrorists murdered her husband in their home. Samerano, just 21 years old, was taken after fleeing the Nova music festival kidnapped and killed by Hamas operatives, including a known UNRWA employee. Levinson, 19, was a brave tank commander in Israel’s elite “Oz” Battalion, captured in combat on the battlefield.

• The rescue was a joint military operation by the IDF and Shin Bet, Israel’s internal security service.

• Samerano’s remains were recovered on what would have been his 23rd birthday.

• The Hostages Families Forum emphasized that true victory will come only when every remaining hostage is brought home.

“This is not just about retrieving bodies it’s about restoring dignity, delivering justice, and demonstrating that Israel never abandons its own,” said a spokesperson for the IDF.

This operation comes as Israel enjoys renewed momentum in the region, especially following U.S. strikes on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure. These coordinated military achievements are opening a rare window for decisive action and potentially, a comprehensive deal to secure the release of the 50 remaining hostages.

But the stakes are higher than ever. Hamas continues to use innocent lives as bargaining chips, and much of the international community remains shamefully silent. Meanwhile, Israel must fight not only on the battlefield but also against propaganda campaigns from anti-Israel media and institutions.

Let this operation be a clear message: Israel will never stop until every hostage is accounted for dead or alive. And with strength and strategy on their side, they are closer than ever to that goal.

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