Israeli Forces Retrieve Bodies Of 3 Hostages Killed By Hamas

On Sunday, Israel Defense Forces announced they had recovered the bodies of three Israeli hostages murdered by Hamas who had been held since October 7, 2023.

“The bodies of SSGT Shay Levinson, Yonatan Samerano and Ofra Keidar, who were held hostage for 625 days in Gaza, have been recovered in a joint IDF and ISA military operation,” the IDF announced.

Bodies of 3 Deceased Hostages Recovered

The bodies of SSGT Shay Levinson, Yonatan Samerano and Ofra Keidar, who were held hostage for 625 days in Gaza, have been recovered in a joint IDF and ISA military operation.

May their memories be a blessing. pic.twitter.com/8FUo9XJwXo

— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) June 22, 2025

Keidar, 71, from Kibbutz Be’eri, was mother of three and the wife of Shmuel Keidar, who was murdered by Hamas in their home, Israel National News reported. “Yonatan Samerano was brutally murdered and abducted from Kibbutz Be’eri on October 7, 2023, by Hamas terrorists, including a UNRWA employee, after fleeing the Nova music festival. Yonatan was 21 years old at the time of his death.”

Levinson, 19, was a tank commander in the “Oz” Battalion and was captured fighting Hamas terrorists on October 7.

 “Yesterday was Yonati’s Hebrew birthday,” Samerano’s father Kobi stated. “On his 23rd birthday, on the very day he was born, our Yonati was rescued in a heroic operation by the brave soldiers of the IDF and the Shin Bet. From the first moment, I believed with all my heart that our army would bring back my son. I never stopped believing, and that’s exactly what happened.”

“Our hearts are with the Keidar, Samerano, and Levinson families today,” the Hostages Families Forum stated. “Alongside the grief and pain, their return provides some comfort to the families who have waited in agony, uncertainty, and doubt for 625 days. We wish to express our deep gratitude to the IDF and security forces who acted with dedication and courage. The return of all the hostages is an essential condition for the process of national healing and recovery.”

“Particularly against the backdrop of current military developments and the significant achievements in Iran, we want to emphasize that bringing back the remaining 50 hostages is the key to achieving complete Israeli victory. There is a historic window of opportunity—the significant regional achievements enable Israel to end the war from a position of clear strength. The return of all hostages through a comprehensive deal—this is in Israel’s interest, this is the next stage, and this is the victory of this war. There will be no victory until the last hostage returns,” the forum added.