Israel announced on Sunday that it had recovered the remains of three hostages from the Gaza Strip and returned their bodies to Israel for burial.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu identified the individuals as Yonatan Samerano, Shay Levinson, and Ofra Keidar, saying they were “murdered and taken hostage” by Hamas during the Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist attack and abducted into Gaza.
Bodies of 3 Deceased Hostages Recovered
The bodies of SSGT Shay Levinson, Yonatan Samerano and Ofra Keidar, who were held hostage for 625 days in Gaza, have been recovered in a joint IDF and ISA military operation.
May their memories be a blessing. pic.twitter.com/8FUo9XJwXo
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) June 22, 2025
“Together with all citizens of Israel, my wife and I convey our heartfelt condolences to the dear families, and share in their deep sorrow,” Netanyahu said.
“I thank the commander and our fighters for the successful action, their determination and their courage,” he added.
The Israeli military said the recovery operation was carried out by the Israel Defense Forces and Shin Bet and was made possible through what it described as “precise intelligence,” according to the Times of Israel. The remains were identified at the Abu Kabir forensic institute in Tel Aviv before families were notified.
Netanyahu said Israel is continuing efforts to bring home the remaining hostages, even as the country remains engaged in an escalating conflict with Iran, which has long funded and armed Hamas and other proxy groups in the region.
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The statement came hours after President Donald Trump announced that U.S. forces had bombed three Iranian nuclear sites in response to recent threats, marking a significant development in the broader Middle East crisis.
“The campaign to return the hostages is ongoing and is continuing in parallel to our campaign against Iran,” Netanyahu said. “We will not rest until we return home all of our hostages, the living and the deceased.”