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Israel recovers bodies of Shani Louk’s boyfriend and two other hostages 7 months after they were snatched by Hamas thugs
Watch the announcement by Israel Defence Forces spokesman Daniel Hagari
THE boyfriend of murdered German tattoo artist Shani Louk has been confirmed dead after he was snatched by Hamas.
He is among three hostages killed on October 7 whose bodies were recovered overnight from Gaza, Israel's army said today.
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The bodies of Hanan Yablonka, Michel Nisenbaum, and Orion Hernandez Radoux have been found and their families notified, after their identities were confirmed by Israeli cops and medical officials.
Israel's army said all three hostages were killed by Hamas on October 7 at the Mefalsim intersection near Israel's border with Gaza.
They were reportedly located by the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) and Israel's domestic security agency at a location in Jabalia, north of Gaza City, following a bitter firefight.
The IDF said "intense combat" was carried out in the area at the beginning of the rescue operation.
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Orion, 30, was a French-Mexican citizen snatched from Israeli music festival Supernova, billed as "a journey of unity and love" before Hamas' attack.
He had attended the festival with his 22-year-old girlfriend Shani Louk, whose body was retrieved by Israel from the Gaza Strip last week, and their friend Keshet Casarotti, who was also murdered by Hamas.
Michel, 59, was a Brazilian-Israeli citizen who resided in Sderot, southern Israel, just over a mile from the border with Gaza.
He was a father to two girls and a grandfather-of-six, believed to have been taken hostage while attempting to rescue his four-year-old granddaughter who was at the Re'im military base with her father.
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Dad-of-two Hanan, 42, was an Israeli citizen from Tel Aviv.
He was snatched from the Supernova festival and dragged back to Gaza, and is survived by his children Yarin, nine, and Emily, 12.
Shani Louk’s brother says he is ‘relieved’ his 'pure angel' sister is dead
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Volunteer group Hostages and Missing Families Forum shared an online tribute to those found dead in Jabalia.
The group wrote: "It is with profound sorrow that the Families Forum bows its head following the announcement of the murder of Michel Nisenbaum, Hanan Yablonka, and Orion Hernandez Radoux - may their memories be a blessing - at the hands of Hamas terrorists."
It added: "The sorrowful return of Michel, Hanan, and Orion is another heartbreak for the 125 families of the hostages, who share the pain, sorrow, and endless worry.
"The recovery of their bodies is a silent but resolute reminder that the State of Israel is obligated to immediately dispatch negotiation teams with a clear demand to bring about a deal that will swiftly return all the hostages home: the living for rehabilitation and the murdered for burial."
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shared his condolences, saying he and his wife Sara "bowed our heads in deep sorrow and embrace the grieving families in their difficult time".
He added: "We have a national and moral duty to do everything we can to return our hostages - those who are alive as well as the fallen."
The PM praised Israeli forces for recovering the bodies "in the heart of enemy territory".
Shani's body, along with those of hostages Amit Buskila, 28, and Itzhak Gelerenter, 57, were retrieved last week from the Strip.
They were found in a tunnel in Jabalia during a similar night-time raid by Israeli troops.
All three hostages were said to have been killed by Hamas terrorists at the Nova music festival before their bodies were taken to Gaza.
Shani, Amit, Itzhak, Hanan, Michel, and Orion were among 1,200 people slaughtered by Hamas-led militants on October 7.
Terrorists abducted around 250 others in the unprecedented attack.
Shani Louk became a symbol of Hamas militants' brutality after pictures emerged of militants parading her half-naked body through Gaza on the back of a truck, while crowds cheered and spat on her.
Distressing images showed five armed Hamas brutes in the back of the truck, as one rested his feet on Shani's bloodied body.
Half of the hostages taken and dragged to Gaza have been freed, most in swaps for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel during a week-long ceasefire in November.
But about 100 hostages remain captive in Gaza, along with the bodies of about 30 others, according to Israel.
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Israel intends to "bring everyone back", including "those still alive, and those we must bring for burial", said Israeli President Isaac Herzog.
Israeli attacks in Gaza have killed more than 35,800 Palestinians since Hamas' massacre, according to Gaza's Hamas-run Ministry of Health.
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