The Israeli army has retrieved the bodies of four hostages discovered in tunnels in Jabalia, northern Gaza Strip, where intense fighting has taken place recently. The victims, identified as Ron Benjamin, Shani Louk, Amit Buskila, and Itzhak Gelerenter, were repatriated after a coordinated operation based on intelligence obtained during interrogations. These individuals were among the many casualties of the brutal October 7 Hamas attack.
According to the Israeli army, Shani Louk, Amit Buskila, and Itzhak Gelerenter were killed while trying to escape the Nova music festival near the Gaza Strip. Ron Benjamin, aged 53, was killed near Mefalsim in southern Israel, from where his body was transported to Gaza. The remains were recovered from ‘underground tunnels in Jabalia’ following a night operation by Israeli forces. The soldiers inspected a suspicious building, discovered the tunnel entrance, and fought within to retrieve the hostages' remains.
More than 360 people lost their lives at the Nova electronic music festival, accounting for a significant portion of the casualties from the October 7 Hamas attack. In total, 1,170 people, mostly civilians, were killed in the attack, based on official Israeli data reported by AFP. The devastating offensive by Israel, aimed at dismantling Hamas, has led to escalating violence and significant civilian casualties in the besieged Gaza Strip. The Health Ministry of the Hamas-led Gaza government reported over 35,562 deaths, predominantly among civilians.
Fights in Jabalia have been described as ‘perhaps the fiercest’ since the conflict began. Israeli forces, in a joint effort comprising the IDF, Shin Bet, and Unit 504, executed a critical operation in the combat area, locating and neutralizing blockades, IEDs, and weapons during the tunnel search. The intense three-day battle culminated in the recovery of the hostages' bodies. Of the 252 people taken hostage on October 7, 124 remain detained in Gaza, with 37 confirmed deceased according to the Israeli army.
- The operation to retrieve the hostages' bodies involved specialized units including the 202nd Battalion combat team, Yehalam fighters, and Unit 504 under the command of Division 98. These units entered the underground tunnels during night operations, employing unique technologies to neutralize blockades, detect IEDs, and locate weapons.
- The retrieval process was completed in cooperation with various Israeli defense forces, emphasizing the complexity and danger of such missions. Paratroopers and Shin Bet forces were instrumental in locating the tunnel shaft in a suspicious building, leading to the successful extraction of the hostages' remains.
