A 23-year-old German-Israeli, Shani Louk who was kidnapped from the Nova music festival by Hamas militants on October 7 has been found dead, according to the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“We are devastated to share that the body of 23-year-old German-Israeli Shani (Louk) was found and identified,” the ministry posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, on Monday.
Louuk was at the festival in Southern Israel when Hamas attacked Israel.
According to the foreign ministry statement, “tortured and paraded around Gaza by Hamas terrorists” and she “experienced unfathomable horrors.”
“May her memory be a blessing,” the statement said.
Hamas Militants blocked off the road to the festival from the north and the south during their October 7 attack, before they encircled the area on foot.
Videos showed them surrounding the crowds on three sides, gunning them down and forcing them to flee over fields to the east.
Ricarda Louk, Shani’s mother, spoke to CNN while still hopeful for her daughter to be returned to her.
“She was going to her car and they had military people standing by the cars and were shooting so people couldn’t reach their cars, even to go away. And that’s when they took her,” Ricarda told CNN, adding that she hoped to see her daughter again, but that the situation appeared bleak.
“It looks very bad, but I still have hope. I hope that they don’t take bodies for negotiations. I hope that she’s still alive somewhere. We don’t have anything else to hope for, so I try to believe,” she said.
According to the Israel Rescue Service, More than 260 bodies were found at the Nova festival site itself.
Her mother had previously revealed that she had sought support from the German government.
“I don’t understand really how such a brutal thing can just happen in the middle of the day and it was a complete surprise,” Louk said.”
They can only help bring the perpetrators to justice since Louk has been confirmed dead.
The latest figure of hostages believed to be held by Hamas in the enclave is up to 239, Israeli military spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said on Sunday.
