^{Israeli hostage Jonathan Samerano's mother marks his birthday at "Hostage Square" in Tel Aviv on June 05, 2025. Photo by Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90.}

Israeli security forces have recovered the bodies of three hostages held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Sunday.

The operation, carried out by the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) and the Israel Defense Forces on Saturday, brought back the remains of Ofra Keidar, Yonatan Samerano and Staff Sgt. Shay Levinson. All three were abducted and killed during the Oct. 7, 2023, attack by Hamas.

Netanyahu, addressing the families of the victims, said, “Together with all the citizens of Israel, my wife and I send our deepest condolences to the dear families and share in their profound sorrow.”

He praised the commanders and soldiers involved in the mission for their determination and courage.

The prime minister emphasized that efforts to return all Israeli hostages continue alongside ongoing operations against Iran. “We will not rest until we bring all our abductees home—both the living and the fallen,” Netanyahu said.

Defense Minister Israel Katz also commented on the operation, expressing deep condolences to their families. He emphasized that returning the bodies was a key objective of “Operation Gideon’s Chariots” and reaffirmed Israel’s ongoing commitment to bringing all hostages—both living and deceased—back to Israel, vowing to persist until the mission is complete.

Fifty hostages remain in captivity in the Gaza Strip. Jerusalem believes that at least 20 of the captives are still alive.

Keidar, 71, was killed at Kibbutz Be’eri along with her husband, Shmuel.

Levinson, 19, served as a tank commander in Nahal Oz and was killed in action after engaging Hamas terrorists on the morning of Oct. 7.

Samerano’s father announced the recovery earlier on Sunday.

The recovery coincided with Yonatan’s 23rd birthday on the Hebrew calendar on Saturday. In a moving message, his father recounted his unwavering belief that the army would bring his son back, and expressed deep gratitude to the Israeli government, security forces and the people of Israel for their prayers and support.

Yonatan’s family pledged to remember him always, honoring his memory and the light he brought into their lives.

Samerano was 21 on Oct. 7, 2023, when he was shot by Hamas terrorists and abducted by a U.N. Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) social worker.

He had been attending the Supernova music festival near Kibbutz Re’im with friends when the attack began. Attempting to escape, Yonatan fled to Kibbutz Be’eri, where he was shot.

Later investigations revealed that his body was taken into Gaza by Faisal Ali Mussalem al-Naami, a Hamas terrorist employed as a social worker by UNRWA.

For nearly two months, Yonatan was considered a hostage, but in December 2023, his family was informed that he had been murdered on Oct. 7 and that his body remained in Hamas’s hands.

Yonatan’s parents have filed a lawsuit against UNRWA with the Jerusalem District Court, accusing the U.N. agency of complicity in the attack and demanding justice.

Source: JNS