Israeli forces have recovered the bodies of three hostages from Gaza, according to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

The bodies of Shani Louk, Amit Buskila, and Itzhak Gelerenter were found in a Hamas tunnel. The IDF reported that they had been murdered on October 7 and their remains taken to Gaza.

Approximately 1,200 people were killed in an unprecedented attack when Hamas gunmen infiltrated Israel, taking 252 hostages back to Gaza.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the news “heart-breaking.”

“We will return all of our hostages, the living and the deceased alike,” he said.

The IDF stated that the bodies were recovered in an overnight operation based on intelligence from interrogations of detained terrorists in Gaza.

The three victims were killed near the site of the Nova festival massacre in southern Israel, where over 360 people were killed. About 125 hostages remain unaccounted for, with others having been released or rescued.

In October, Shani Louk’s mother confirmed her daughter’s death after a piece of her skull was found. It was hoped that Amit Buskila and Itzhak Gelerenter were still alive.

Shani Louk’s father, Nissim Louk, expressed relief that the family could now bury their “beautiful girl,” saying she “brought light to the world.” He contrasted the image of Shani being paraded by armed fighters with photos of her smiling and carefree, describing this as the difference between “cruelty and love.”

Amit Buskila was a fashion stylist and social media influencer, kidnapped while on the phone with her uncle. Itzhak Gelerenter was a father and grandfather who had just arrived at the Nova festival.

The Hostages Family Forum expressed deep sorrow and heartbreak over the announcement, honoring the memories of the three victims.

Under a deal in November, Hamas released 105 hostages in exchange for a week-long ceasefire and the release of 240 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails. The number of remaining hostages still alive is unclear.

Hamas’ armed wing stated that captives would only return through an “honourable exchange deal.”

Long-running talks in Cairo for a truce and further hostage releases are currently stalled.

Following the October 7 attacks, Israel launched an offensive in Gaza that has resulted in over 35,000 deaths, mostly civilians, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. The UN reports that about 2.2 million Palestinians face chronic food shortages and urgently need shelter and other assistance.