Parents and supporters of the hostages held in Gaza since the Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel by Hamas protest for the release of all the hostages in front of the Likud party headquarters in Tel Aviv, Israel, on June 21, 2025. (Credit: Violeta Santos Moura/Reuters)
The Israeli military announced Sunday that it has retrieved the bodies of three hostages who were held in Gaza by Hamas.
"The Shin Bet and the army have brought back from Gaza the bodies of the hostages Ofra Keidar, Yonatan Samerano, and Staff Sergeant Shai Levinson," the military said, explaining that the operation took place the previous day, Saturday, noting that these three individuals were already considered dead.
The body of Samerano, 23, held hostage in Gaza, was brought back Saturday by the Israeli military, the man's father announced Sunday. "Our Yonati was saved in a heroic operation conducted by the brave soldiers of the Israeli army and the Shin Bet," Kobi Samerano wrote in a message posted on Instagram.
Out of the 251 people abducted on Oct. 7, 2023, 49 are still held in Gaza, of which at least 27 are dead, according to Israeli authorities.
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