The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have recovered the bodies of three hostages in the Gaza Strip, IDF spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said in a news conference in Tel Aviv on Friday.
The hostages were identified as Shani Louk, Amit Bouskila, and Itshak Gelernter, Hagari said.
Nissim Louk, the father of Shani Louk, told Israeli media his daughter's body was very well preserved because it had been kept in a "deep and very cold tunnel."
All three escaped from the Nova festival in southern Israel when “terrorists” arrived on October 7, 2023, Hagari said. After escaping, they went to the kibbutz of Mefalsim and were killed “brutally” there by the terrorists, he added.
"They were celebrating life in the Nova music festival and they were murdered by Hamas," he said.
The bodies were transferred to medical professionals for forensic examination. The families were then notified, he said.
The Hostage and Missing Families Forum expressed deep sorrow over the deaths of the hostages. The group said the recovery of their bodies is a reminder that the remaining hostages must also be returned to Israel.
More context: Around 240 people were taken hostage and moved to Gaza during Hamas’ October 7 attack on Israel that also killed more than 1,200 people. A little more than 100 were freed during a release deal in November, but the IDF believes there are still 132 hostages being held in Gaza, 128 of whom were taken on October 7.
The IDF believed that of those 132 hostages, 40 are believed to be dead, including two who were taken in 2014.
This post has been updated with a comment from the father of Shani Louk.