Jerusalem (AP) — In a tragic turn of events, the Israeli military announced on Friday that three Israeli hostages, including German-Israeli Shani Louk, were found dead in Gaza, victims of an attack by Hamas on October 7. The bodies of 22-year-old Louk, 28-year-old Amit Buskila, and 56-year-old Itzhak Gelerenter were discovered, shedding light on the brutality of the militants’ assault on communities in southern Israel.

The victims met their untimely demise while attempting to flee the Nova music festival near the Gaza border, where hundreds of individuals lost their lives at the hands of Hamas-led militants. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed profound sorrow over the deaths, pledging to retrieve all hostages, living or deceased.

Overnight, the bodies of the three hostages were located by Israeli troops, although specific details regarding the discovery were not immediately disclosed. Israel’s military operations in the southern city of Rafah in Gaza continue as intelligence suggests more hostages are being held captive.

Tragically, around 1,200 individuals, primarily civilians, lost their lives in the heinous October 7 attack by Hamas, with approximately 250 others taken as hostages. While some hostages have been released in exchange for Palestinian prisoners during a temporary ceasefire in November, roughly 100 individuals remain captives in Gaza, along with the bodies of approximately 30 more victims.

The ongoing conflict has resulted in over 35,000 Palestinian casualties, according to Gaza health officials, as Israel strives to eliminate Hamas and secure the release of all hostages. Despite Prime Minister Netanyahu’s commitments, progress has been slow, prompting calls for his resignation and threats from the United States to reassess support due to the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza.

In Israel, differing opinions abound, with some advocating for a pause in military actions to prioritize hostage release, while others believe sacrifices must be made to eradicate Hamas. Mediation efforts by Qatar, the United States, and Egypt have yielded minimal results, highlighting the complexity of the situation and the challenges faced in finding a resolution.