Israel recovers bodies of three hostages held in Gaza

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"Israel Recovers Bodies of Three Hostages from Gaza After 20 Months"

Israel recovers bodies of three hostages held in Gaza analysis cover image The Guardian 7.4
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Original Article Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jun/22/israel-recovers-bodies-of-three-hostages-held-in-gaza
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TruthLens AI Summary

On Sunday, Israel announced the recovery of the bodies of two civilians and one soldier who had been held hostage in Gaza for over 20 months. The Israeli military confirmed that the remains of Ofra Keidar, Yonatan Samerano, and SSgt Shay Levinson were retrieved during a special operation in Gaza on Saturday. The families of the hostages expressed a mixture of relief and sorrow, stating that the return of the bodies offers some comfort after enduring 625 days of uncertainty and anguish. While the recovery was a significant step for the families, they emphasized the urgent need for the Israeli government to focus on returning the remaining 50 hostages still held by Hamas, asserting that this is crucial for achieving a complete resolution to the ongoing conflict. The hostage forum described Samerano as a talented DJ who had aspirations of music and travel, while Keidar, 71, was a resident of the Be’eri kibbutz, which suffered significant losses during Hamas's initial attacks in October 2023.

The situation remains tense as families of the remaining hostages fear that Israel's ongoing conflict with Iran, which escalated on June 13, may divert attention from efforts to secure the release of their loved ones. Following Hamas's attack on October 7, 2023, where 251 individuals were taken hostage and approximately 1,200 were killed, the Israeli government has faced pressure to address the plight of those still captive. President Isaac Herzog has called for the urgent release of the remaining hostages, linking this need to broader regional security. Meanwhile, some families have protested against the government's military actions in Gaza, advocating for a ceasefire as the safest route to recover the remaining captives. The ongoing conflict has claimed the lives of over 55,000 Palestinians, predominantly women and children, highlighting the humanitarian crisis in the region amidst the prolonged violence.

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Source URL: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jun/22/israel-recovers-bodies-of-three-hostages-held-in-gaza

Israel announced on Sunday it had recovered the bodies of two civilians and one soldier held hostage in Gaza, amid its wars in Gaza and Iran.

The Israeli military said it recovered the remains of Ofra Keidar, Yonatan Samerano and SSgt Shay Levinson in an operation inGazaon Saturday, more than 20 months after they were abducted by Hamas militants.

“In a special operation … the bodies of the hostages Ofra Keidar, Yonatan Samerano and SSgt Shay Levinson were recovered from the Gaza Strip yesterday,” the Israel Defense Forces said in a statement.

The hostage families forum said in a statement the return of the bodies “provides some comfort to the families who have waited in agony, uncertainty, and doubt for 625 days”. The group further urged the Israeli government to return the remaining 50 hostages from Gaza, which it said was the “key to achieving complete victory”.

The group described Samerano as “a talented DJ who just wanted to make music, have fun, and travel”. Keidar, 71, lived in the Be’eri kibbutz, where more than 100 people were killed.

Some of the families of those abducted fear that Israel’s war withIran, which started on 13 June, would distract from efforts to return the remaining captives. Hamas-led militants took 251 people hostage during its 7 October 2023 attack in Israel, and killed 1,200 people. Of the remaining hostages, Israel believes approximately 30 are dead.

On Sunday, Israel’s president, Isaac Herzog, called for the “urgent release” of the remaining hostages after theUS carried out strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.

“This brave step serves the security and safety of the entire free world. I hope it will lead to a better future for the Middle East – and help advance the urgent release of our hostages held in captivity in Gaza,” Herzog wrote on X.

Some families of the hostages protested against the Israeli government’s resumption of the war in Gaza in March and have said a ceasefire is the only way to safely recover those remaining. Fighting resumed after Israel declined to move to a second phase of an agreed-upon ceasefire that could have led to a permanent end to the war.

Israel continues its operations in Gaza, where more than 55,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have been killed over the last 20 months.

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Source: The Guardian