Israel recovers bodies of three hostages held in Gaza
22 June 2025, 11:25
The bodies of three hostages held in Gaza have been recovered, Israel's Defence Force (IDF) has said.
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The Israeli military announced that it has recovered the bodies of three hostages being held by Hamas in Gaza with the help of its the intelligence service.
They were named as Ofra Keidar, Yonatan Samerano, and Staff Sgt Shay Levinson.
Keidar, a mother-of-three, was from Kibbutz Be'eri, one of the locations attacked by Hamas on 7 October.
She was killed along with her husband in the initial attack, with her body being taken to Gaza.
Samerano, 21, escaped the Nova music festival when the Hamas first launchd its attack.
He was later killed in Kibbutz Be'eri and his body was brought to Gaza. It was recovered yesterday on what would have been his 23rd birthday.
Levinson, 19, was a tank commander in the IDF and died in combat on October attack 7. His body was also brought to Gaza.
Israeli Prime Mintier Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement: "Together with all the citizens of Israel, my wife and I extend our heartfelt condolences to the dear families, and share in their deep sorrow.
"I thank our commanders and fighters for a successful operation, for their determination and courage.
"The campaign to return the kidnapped continues continuously and is taking place in parallel with the campaign against Iran.
"We will not rest until we bring all our captives home - both the living and the dead."
It comes as the US stunned the world on Saturday night by striking three Iranian nuclear facilities with a dozen "bunker buster bombs".
US president Donald Trump authorised the bombings of the underground Fordow plant, one of the country’s key nuclear sites, and two other facilities in the early hours of Sunday morning, calling it a “successful attack”.
He surprised the world a little before 8 p.m. Saturday by announcing on Truth Social that he had given the go-ahead to attack Iran, using 12 massive 30,000-pound 'bunker buster' bombs and 30 Tomahawk missiles to destroy Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan.
In what is the most consequential decision of Mr Trump’s presidency so far, the assault signals a significant escalation in the conflict with Tehran.
Pressure had been mounting on the US to intervene in the escalating conflict in support of Israel, and to force Iran’s leaders to end its nuclear programme.
