IDF Recovers Bodies of 3 Hostages Hy’d, Murdered by Hamas on Oct. 7

In a joint military and intelligence operation, the IDF announced on Sunday the recovery of the bodies of three hostages who were murdered and taken to Gaza by Hamas terrorists on October 7. The victims were identified as Ofra Keidar Hy”d, Jonathan Samerano Hy”d, and Staff Sgt. Shay Levinson Hy”d.

The three victims were transferred to the Abu Kabir forensic institute for identification, after which their families were informed of the findings.

Ofra, 71, was attacked and killed by Hamas terrorists while out on her regular morning walk near her home in Kibbutz Be’eri during the October 7 massacre. Her body was taken by the terrorists to Gaza.

Friends and relatives described Ofra as a dedicated and active member of the kibbutz who enjoyed gardening, swimming, and animals. She had worked for many years in the community’s dairy, milking cows.

Her husband, Sami Keidar, was also killed on Oct. 7, shot by terrorists in his home, had Parkinson’s disease and was unable to reach the safe room. The couple’s caregiver was wounded by gunfire as well.

The couple’s daughter, Yael, managed to survive the terror by locking herself in the safe room and staying hidden until the sounds of gunfire stopped.

Ofra is survived by Yael and sons Elad and Oren, seven grandchildren, and several siblings.

“There is comfort, we will finally have a proper grave to visit — this is good news,” said Elad in an interview with Army Radio following the recovery.

Jonathan Samerano, 22, from Tel Aviv, had been attending the Nova music festival when Hamas launched its murderous rampage.

When the attack began, Samerano fled with two friends toward Kibbutz Be’eri, where they were all killed. His body was then abducted by terrorists. Over 360 people were murdered at the festival.

Security footage from Be’eri showed Hamas terrorists placing Jonathan in a jeep and driving him into Gaza. His death was confirmed in December.

“Yesterday was Yonati’s Hebrew birthday. 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,” wrote his father, Kobi Samerano, on Instagram.

“Yonati, we were blessed to live by your side for 21 and a half years of light,” he continued. “You have returned to us, beloved son, wrapped in the light of heroism, of faith, of a nation united.”

One of the terrorists who kidnapped Jonathan was later revealed to be an employee of UNRWA, the UN’s agency for Palestinian refugees. Then-defense minister Yoav Gallant disclosed in February 2024 that the man was one of 12 UNRWA staff members who had “actively participated” in the October 7 attack.

Jonathan’s mother, Ayelet, became involved in the campaign to retrieve the hostages from Gaza, both the living and those who were murdered.

At a UN Watch summit in Geneva, Ayelet demanded accountability from the UN’s leadership. “Mr. Guterres, look at my eyes and answer me now — where is my son?” she asked.

“How can the UN pay this man who dragged my son’s limp body along the ground and then picked him up as if he were a prize into Gaza,” she said. “How many more lives have been ruined by this person, hauling my son like he isn’t even a human being into an UNRWA car?”

After the allegations became public, UNRWA dismissed the twelve implicated employees.

Jonathan is survived by his parents and his brother, Yair.

Staff Sgt. Shay Levinson, 19, was serving as a tank commander near the Gaza border when the Hamas terrorists broke in. He was killed in combat near the Nova festival grounds, and his body was taken into Gaza.

Shay, a resident of Givat Avni in the north, was known for his kind heart, love of learning, and athletic ability. He played volleyball for Eilabun, a top-tier team from a neighboring Arab town.

A close friend, Ofir Hauptmann, described him as “the social glue” of their group. “I lost a close friend, an optimist, who I always consulted with… It’s really hard for me to talk about him in the past tense.”

Israel Volleyball Association chair Rina Dor called him “a volleyball player with a bright future ahead of him.”

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum expressed sorrow but also gratitude following the recovery of the bodies, and renewed its call for the Israeli government to seize the current regional momentum to strike a deal for the remaining hostages.

“We wish to express our deep gratitude to the IDF and security forces who acted with dedication and courage,” the group stated. “The return of all the hostages is an essential condition for the process of national healing and recovery.”

They urged the government to leverage the military gains against Iran, Hamas’s primary patron, to reach a comprehensive agreement.

“We want to emphasize that bringing back the remaining 50 hostages is the key to achieving any sort of victory,” they said. “There is a historic window of opportunity — the significant regional achievements enable Israel to end the war from a position of clear strength.”

Fifty hostages remain in Gaza, including 49 of the 251 people kidnapped on October 7. According to Israeli officials, at least 28 of them have been confirmed murdered, 20 are believed to still be alive, and there are serious concerns for two others. Hamas is also holding the body of an IDF soldier killed during the 2014 war in Gaza.