A 23-year-old German-Israeli woman, Shani (Louk), who was abducted by Hamas militants during the Nova music festival on October 7, has been declared dead, according to the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The ministry announced the tragic news on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday, stating that forensic examiners identified her remains based on a bone fragment found from her skull. Shani Louk was reportedly tortured and paraded around Gaza by Hamas terrorists after being kidnapped during the festival.
The identification process involved a bone fragment from the petrous part of the temporal bone, located at the base of the skull near the carotid artery. A DNA test confirmed that the fragment belonged to Shani Louk. Her death comes after a period of uncertainty, with videos showing her seemingly unconscious on the back of a Hamas truck after the festival attack.
The festival, held in southern Israel, turned from a celebration to a nightmare for Shani Louk’s family. Her mother, Ricarda Louk, described the ordeal of not knowing her daughter’s whereabouts for three weeks, expressing the initial hope for her safe return. The total death toll from the Nova festival could be higher than 260, according to CNN’s analysis.
Shani Louk’s case is part of a larger hostage situation, with more than 200 hostages believed to be held by Hamas in Gaza. A recent ground operation in Gaza led to the release of an Israeli soldier, Pvt. Ori Megidish, who was kidnapped on October 7. Calls for a comprehensive deal to ensure the release of hostages are growing, with families pressing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for answers and security assurances. The families are advocating for an “everyone for everyone” principle, suggesting an exchange of hostages for Palestinians held in Israeli prisons.
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