A female Israeli soldier who was kidnapped by Hamas terrorists on October 7 has been rescued during an Israeli ground operation in the Gaza Strip, according to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). Pvt. Ori Megidish has been reunited with her family and is in good condition, as confirmed by a medical examination. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the successful rescue at a cabinet meeting, condemning the terrorists of Hamas and ISIS as “monsters” and vowing to continue pursuing and striking them. Megidish is the fifth hostage to be returned out of more than 200 captured during the October 7 attack.
Israel’s Defense Minister Yoav Gallant praised the overnight operation, stating that it demonstrates Israel’s ability to rescue more hostages held by Hamas. He emphasized the significance of ground operations and the commitment to every hostage. Meanwhile, another missing person in Israel, 23-year-old Shani Louk, was confirmed dead. Louk, an Israeli-German citizen, was among the attendees of a music festival that was targeted by Hamas terrorists. A video of her dancing at the festival before the attack gained widespread attention.
Israel’s President Isaac Herzog revealed that Louk’s skull was found in Gaza, describing the terrorists’ actions as barbaric and sadistic. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz also confirmed Louk’s death and expressed condolences to her family. He condemned Hamas for the attack and stated that Israel has the right to defend itself against such acts of terror.
The article concludes by providing contact information for journalist Joey Garrison and stating that the article was originally published on USA TODAY with the title “Israel rescues kidnapped soldier; skull of hostage found.”
