The body of Israeli-German citizen Shani Louk, who was believed to have been kidnapped alive amid Hamas's assault on the music festival in Reim, was found on Monday.
Louk's sister, Adi, confirmed Shani's death on Instagram.
Louk was seen in footage shared on the day of the attack laying motionless in the back of a truck after being kidnapped and brought into Gaza. It was unclear if she was alive in the video, although Louk's mother stated a few days later that she was alive and being held in a hospital in Gaza. Louk's mother, Ricarda, told the German RTL/ntv that she was informed on Sunday that her daughter was no longer alive.
JUST IN: German-Israeli festival attendee Shani Louk, who was filmed being paraded around in her underwear by Hamas with her legs broken, is confirmed dead.The news comes after her mother told news outlets earlier in the month that her daughter was alive.The family says Louk… pic.twitter.com/Kt6pHMdgZp
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) October 30, 2023
A cousin of Louk's said that the family received an official notice from the IDF and ZAKA that a bone from the base of Louk's skull had been found matched with Louk's DNA. Doctors determined that a person cannot live without the bone found and concluded that Louk could not possibly still be alive.
In an interview with German news organization, Bild, President Isaac Herzog reiterated the confirmation of Louk's death.
"I am truly sorry to report that we have now received news that Shani Nicole Louk has been confirmed murdered and dead," the German media outlet quoted the president as saying in a post on X, formerly Twitter. "Her skull was found. This means that these barbaric, sadistic animals simply chopped off her head as they attacked, tortured, and killed Israelis. It is a great tragedy and I extend my deepest condolences to her family.”
Wir haben gerade Israels Präsident @Isaac_Herzog zum Interview getroffen. Herzog sagte über die getötete Deutsche Shani Louk: „Es tut mir wirklich leid, berichten zu müssen, dass wir jetzt die Nachricht erhalten haben, dass Shani Nicole Louk als ermordet und tot bestätigt wurde.… pic.twitter.com/blBIlqwZ4g
— Paul Ronzheimer (@ronzheimer) October 30, 2023
It is as of yet unclear if earlier reports about Louk being held alive in Gaza were incorrect.
Louk was attending the Supernova music festival near Reim on October 7 when Hamas terrorists launched their assault, killing over 260 civilians at the festival.
Louk's boyfriend, Mexican national Orión Hernández Radoux, is also believed to have been kidnapped by Hamas terrorists in the assault. Texts in Arabic were sent from his phone after the attack.