A 23-year-old German–Israeli woman kidnapped from the Nova music festival by Hamas militants on October 7 died, according to the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
On Monday, the ministry announced on X, previously Twitter, “We are devastated to share that the body of 23-year-old German-Israeli Shani (Louk) was found and identified.”
Hamas stormed the Gaza-Israel border on October 7 when Louk was enjoying a festival in southern Israel.
Foreign ministry: Hamas militants took Louk at the festival, mistreated him, and displayed him in Gaza. She endured “unfathomable horrors.”
“May her memory be a blessing,” it said.
On October 7, militants barricaded the festival’s road from the north and south before invading the enormous grounds on foot, according to site recordings.
The crowd was then surrounded by three gunmen and compelled to flee across the eastern fields.
Shani’s mother, Ricarda Louk, told earlier this month that she called her daughter to check whether she was safe after hearing rockets and alarms in southern Israel. Shani told her mother she had few hiding places at the festival.
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She was going to her car when military personnel stood behind the automobiles and shot, preventing others from reaching their cars or leaving. Then they took her,” Ricarda said, adding that she hoped to see her again but was anxious.
“It looks bad, but I have hope. Hope talks don’t involve bodies. I hope she’s alive. I strive to believe because we have nothing else,” she said.
Israeli rescue service Zaka identified more than 260 bodies at the Nova event site, but estimates a higher death toll.
Video shows Louk, an Israeli-German citizen, unconscious on a Hamas truck following the music festival attack.
“After the video, you can’t tell if she’s alive or dead. Following the assault, Louk’s mother remarked that we were fearful and anxious.
Mother of kidnapped Girl:
Her mother said she sought German government assistance in freeing her daughter.
Louk commented, “I do not comprehend how such a heinous event could occur in the middle of the day; it was a total shock.”
Several hostages returned to Gaza. Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, an Israeli military spokesperson, claimed Sunday that Hamas holds 239 hostages in the enclave.
A female Israeli soldier kidnapped by Hamas on October 7 was freed on Monday during ground operations in Gaza.
The IDF reported that the soldier has met with her family and undergone a medical examination.
A mother and daughter from the United States were liberated first, followed by an Israeli woman aged 85 and her companion aged 79.
However, hostage families are pressuring Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for a “comprehensive deal” to free them. Concerns over Israel’s growing ground operations endangering Gaza hostages are making these calls more urgent.
On Saturday, the detainees’ families met with Netanyahu in Tel Aviv to plead for their safety during Israel’s attack.
After the meeting, Romi Gonen’s mother, Meirav Leshem Gonen, informed a news conference that the families would discuss an “everyone for everyone” solution with Israel’s support.
A “everyone for everyone” plan would free 6,630 Palestinian hostages in Israeli prisons, according to the Palestinian Prisoners Club.
A brief video on Monday showed three girls allegedly held by Hamas.
In the video, the woman in the middle addresses Netanyahu directly with rising wrath from plastic seats facing the camera. She calls the hostage families’ news conference “yesterday,” implying a Monday recording.
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