A 22-year-old woman who was kidnapped by Hamas and paraded on the back of a truck at the Nova music festival on October 7 has died, her family has said.
Shani Louk was taken by Hamas terrorists from southern Israel to Gaza as they launched their attack on the festival close to the Kibbutz Reim, killing at least 260 civilians and taking an unknown number hostage.
Her family had held out hope that the German-Israeli citizen would be found alive, but on Sunday her mother and sister announced that she was tragically killed.
In an interview with German broadcaster RTL, her mother Ricarda Louk said: “Unfortunately, we received news yesterday that my daughter is no longer alive.”
Posting on Instagram, her sister Adi Louk added: “It is with great sadness that we announce the death of my sister, Shani Nicole Z’’l [may her memory be a blessing], who was on October 7, 2023, at the party massacre in Re'im.”
Relatives said they had received confirmation from the Israeli Zaka rescue service saying that a bone from the base of her skull had been recovered and identified.
The 22-year-old’s body has not yet been recovered from Gaza, and her death has not yet been confirmed by the German foreign ministry.
Her boyfriend, Mexican national Orion Hernandez Radoux, 30, is also believed to have been kidnapped by Hamas.
Her mother had previously told German tabloid BILD of her hopes that Shani was alive.
“We now have evidence that Shani is alive but has a serious head injury and is in critical condition. Every minute is critical,” she said previously.
Shani was filmed dancing at the music event hours before Hamas launched its attack, with footage later emerging of her being paraded by Hamas terrorists at gunpoint.
The tattoo artist held a German passport and visited her grandparents in Ravensburg in the southern German state of Baden-Württemberg several times.
Her relatives had pleaded with the German government for help in freeing Shani.
Speaking previously in an interview with German broadcaster ZDF, aunt Orly Louk and her uncle Wilfried Gehr said: “We are unsettled and totally disappointed that the Federal Government does not feel responsible.
“One from the Foreign Office said he doesn't have time because they have to rebook flights. That makes me so angry."
