The IDF recovered the body of Israeli hostage Yonatan Samerano on Sunday, the IDF announced.
Samerano, 21 years old, attended the Nova Music Festival at Re'im, and when the attacks began, he fled to Be'eri, where he was killed and kidnapped to Gaza by terrorists. His body was recovered alongside hostages Shay Levinson, and Ofra Keidar, who were confirmed dead by the military and held in Hamas captivity since the October 7 massacre.
The family made a post on social media, in which they stated that Samerano had been rescued in an IDF and Shin Bet operation.
The family added that yesterday was the date of Samerano's Hebrew birthday.
"On his 23rd birthday—the very day he was born—our Yonatan was rescued in a heroic operation by the brave soldiers of the IDF and the Shin Bet," the post, written by Samerano's father Kobi, read.
"On his birthday, Yonatan—ever the prankster—knocked on the door of his home.Just moments earlier, a missile fragment had fallen near the door.And then came the message—the message we had dreaded receiving for so many long months," Kobi wrote.
'Never stopped beliveing' in Samerano's return
"From the very first moment, I believed with all my heart that our army would bring my son home.
I never stopped believing—and that is what happened," he explained.
Kobi then wrote that he wanted to express his deepest graditude to the "government of Israel, to the prime minister, to our security forces, to the brave IDF soldiers, to the reservists, to the women behind the heroes, to their parents,
and to the entire people of Israel who carried us on hands of prayer, hope, and faith."
"Yonatan, we were blessed to live beside you for 21 and a half years of light—and today, in a new light.
You returned to us, beloved son, wrapped in the light of heroism, of faith, of an entire nation," the post concluded.
This is a developing story.