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The IDF/Shin Bet have rescued several living hostages, over the last months, and they have rescued many dead hostages. Hamas-Islamic Jihad and other Palestinians took the dead bodies of some of their (mostly) Israeli victims to Gaza. To any objective outsider, it is clear that IDF-Shin Bet have been doing as much as they can to rescue hostages, both living and dead. While it’s normal for the relatives to be hysterical with grief, it’s wrong for others to use the hostages for political purposes.

The names and stories of the seven deceased may be found below.

Unofficial translation of Press Briefing (based on the original Hebrew). Official English translation will probably be forthcoming after the Jewish Sabbath here: https://www.idf.il/en/mini-sites/hamas-israel-war-24/briefings-by-idf-spokesperson-rear-admiral-daniel-hagari/
“IDF spokesman, Brigadier General Daniel Hagari:

Shabbat Shalom,

We are updating today that the bodies of the abductees Hanan Yavlonka, Michel Nissenbaum and Orion Hernandez, may their memory be blessed, were recovered during the night in a joint operation by the IDF and Shin Bet.

On the morning of October 7th, Michel, a resident of Sderot, left his house to fetch his four-year-old granddaughter, who was with her father, a permanent employee, in the Gaza Division. On his way there, Michel encountered the terrorists at a level bend.

Orion, a French-Mexican citizen, the partner of Shani Lok Zechara Labarcha, and Hanan, the father of Emily and Lirin, they were at the Nova party and when the terrorist attack began, they fled towards Ekor Mefalim, where they were brutally attacked by Hamas terrorists and kidnapped to Gaza. They were murdered during that morning on the seventh of October.

In the last week, our forces located critical intelligence in the Strip, with the help of which and with the help of previous information we had, we were able to determine their murder, but also to determine their whereabouts, and from here we were able to retrieve the bodies home.

The bodies were recovered from the Gaza Strip, in a joint operation of the IDF and Shin Bet forces, including special units of the two organizations that work shoulder to shoulder, based on the intelligence direction of the Intelligence Division and the Captives and Missing Persons Command.

The forces work with professionalism and determination, in a complex combat environment with risk, to bring murdered abductees for burial in Israel. The bodies were transferred to an identification procedure carried out by medical officials at the National Institute of Forensic Medicine and the Israel Police. Afterwards, the IDF representatives sent a message to the families. The IDF and the Shin Bet share in the grief of the families at this difficult time.

Yesterday, interrogation videos of two terrorists who took part in the October 7 terrorist attack were also released. In one of the investigations, the name of the 24-year-old Matan Tsengauker, who was kidnapped from Nir Oz together with his partner Ilana, was mentioned. The information stated in the investigation was not shown to Matan’s family prior to publication due to human error. Yesterday we investigated this mistake into the night and this morning I also spoke with Einav, Matan’s mother, and with Yaron his father, and personally apologized to them.

This mistake was made in good faith. This is a mistake that was born as a result of the fact that we are in a campaign, a global campaign in order not to allow the world to forget what happened on the seventh of October, and besides this, our duty is to be careful and make sure that the families are the first to know any information that comes up regarding their loved ones, is presented to them first, and only then is it given to the media and from there to the public.

The Nir Oz community, which suffered an unbearably severe disaster, I know that watching these investigations is watching with great pain, and brings back October Seventh and the disaster. We feel your pain, and our duty is to thoroughly investigate everything that happened that day on the seventh of October and present it first of all to the community, and then to the public and the media, alongside our duty to continue working to bring home all the abductees.

The intense fighting in all parts of the Gaza Strip continues, and the supreme task of returning home the abductees is before the eyes of every commander and fighter in the IDF and Shin Bet. “ Original in Hebrew here: https://www.idf.il/אתרי-יחידות/יומן-המלחמה/כל-הכתבות/עדכוני-דובר-צה-ל/עדכון-דובר-צהל-תאל-דניאל-הגרי-הצהרה-יום-שישי-24-05-בוקר/

Note that it is unclear if Michel Nisenbaum was killed on October 7th or died later. After the rocket attack had begun on October 7th, Michel Nisenbaum drove to pick up his granddaughter. The Gaza Division is the IDF ground forces near the border, where his son (or son-in-law) worked. “Israeli hostages in Gaza: Beloved grandfather Michel Nisenbaum’s unknown fate: Michel Nisenbaum, 59, immigrated to Israel as a teen and instantly fell in love with the land and its people. He never misses an opportunity to have coffee with friends or trek the trails.” By SALEM ALKETBI By TANIA SHALOM, January 13, 2024 https://www.jpost.com/israel-hamas-war/article-781817

NEWS BRIEFINGS IN ENGLISH: https://www.idf.il/en/mini-sites/hamas-israel-war-24/briefings-by-idf-spokesperson-rear-admiral-daniel-hagari/

“May 18, 2024 Press Briefing by IDF Spokesperson, Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, May 18 https://youtu.be/DLyjqToDQYo
Press Briefing by IDF Spokesperson, Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, May 18
Tonight, we are sharing the tragic news that the Israel Defense Forces together with the ISA, rescued the body of the Israeli hostage, Ron Benjamin, and brought him home to Israel.

Ron, who was 53 years old, married to Ayelet, and father to Shai and Gil, went out for a cycle ride with friends near Be’eri on the morning of Saturday, October 7th.

On that terrible day, Ron was brutally murdered by Hamas terrorists, and his body was abducted into Gaza.

On October 7th, the cruelty of Hamas was directed against anyone who stood in the way of the murderous terrorists – women, the elderly, adults, children, whether they were Israeli or foreign nationals.

Yesterday, we announced that our troops had rescued the bodies of three other Israeli hostages murdered and abducted on October 7th:Shani Louk, Amit Buskila, Yitzchak Glerenter.

Our thoughts are with all their families at this very difficult time.

Our mission to bring home every single one of the one hundred and twenty-eight hostages who are still being held in Gaza”. https://www.idf.il/en/mini-sites/hamas-israel-war-24/briefings-by-idf-spokesperson-rear-admiral-daniel-hagari/may-24-press-briefings/press-briefing-by-idf-spokesperson-rear-admiral-daniel-hagari-may-18/

“May 17, 2024
Press Briefing by IDF Spokesperson, Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, May 17
17.05.24
IDF Press Briefing by IDF Spokesperson, Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, May 17 https://youtu.be/cSlrDFLCRE8
“It is with a heavy heart that I share the news that last night the Israel Defense Forces 
and ISA forces rescued the bodies of our hostages: Shani Louk, Amit Buskila and Yitzchak Glerenter, who were taken hostage during the Hamas Massacre on October 7th and murdered by Hamas.

According to the credible information that we’ve gathered, Shani Louk, Amit Buskila and Yitzack Glerenter were murdered by Hamas while escaping the Nova Music Festival on October 7th and their bodies were taken into Gaza.


They were celebrating life in the Nova music festival and they were murdered by Hamas.

Their bodies were transferred to medical professionals for forensic examination and identification.


After the procedure was complete, we notified their families.

Our hearts go out to them, to the families, at this difficult time.

We will leave no stone unturned, We will do everything in our power to find our hostages and bring them home.


We will not rest until we do.” https://www.idf.il/en/mini-sites/hamas-israel-war-24/briefings-by-idf-spokesperson-rear-admiral-daniel-hagari/may-24-press-briefings/press-briefing-by-idf-spokesperson-rear-admiral-daniel-hagari-may-17/

Emphasis added.