Shani Louk, an Israeli woman who was killed by Hamas and paraded half-naked on October 7 last year, has been laid to rest in Israel. This comes days after her remains were found in the Palestinian territory.
Mourners gather near the grave of German-Israeli Shani Louk, who was killed in the October 7 attack by Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, during her funeral in Srigim, Israel, May 19, 2024 (REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun) (REUTERS)
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Louk, a 22-year-old tattoo artist, was reportedly buried at a ceremony in the Israeli town of Srigim on Sunday, May 19. Hundreds of mourners attended the funeral, The Telegraph reported.
‘In your death you became a symbol’
“I want your forgiveness. We didn’t understand how dangerous it was for you to go there,” the late woman’s father, Nissim Louk, said at the funeral. “We didn’t realise how serious the risk would be there.”
“As a father I failed to protect you. Forgive me,” he added.
Days after the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel, a horrifying photo of Louk surfaced, where she was seen half-naked and dumped in a pickup truck, accompanied by a group of Hamas terrorists. The photo is now considered a symbol of the horror that was unleashed that day.
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“In your death you became a symbol,” Nissim said. “You were the light to the dark of that terror,” he said.
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“In your death you became a symbol,” Nissim said. “You were the light to the dark of that terror,” he said.
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Late last week, Louk’s body was returned to her family. The Israeli Defense Forces troops found the remains in Rafah while conducting operations against Hamas.
“I didn’t believe we would ever see her body,” Louk’s mother, Ricarda Louk, said at the funeral. Ricarda said the return of her daughter’s remains was a “small gift,” adding that her daughter lived an “intense life with all of her heart.”
Louk also had German citizenship. “I’m proud to have been able to receive your energy, your common sense,” her brother Amit said.
“I was always jealous of how much energy you had. You always gave me strength. I will never stop missing you, sitting with you, speaking to you, partying with you,” he said. “There is no day I don’t see the sun and see you, no day I don’t hear the birdsong and think of you.”
Sumanti Sen covers everything that’s happening in the US, from politics to entertainment, but her expertise lies in covering crime news. She has comprehensively chronicled the Idaho student murders, the Laken Riley and Iryna Zarutska cases, and the killing of Charlie Kirk, among other incidents. Over the years, she has interviewed several victims/families of victims of crimes seeking justice. She digs up stories that might otherwise remain unheard, and does her bit to ensure that victims and survivors’ voices are heard. Sumanti’s many years of experience also include interviews with Hamas attack survivors and mental health experts, among others. Her coverage of the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel and interviews with survivors of the tragedy, coupled with her other works including the Titan submersible coverage, earned her the Digi Journo of the Quarter award during her first year at Hindustan Times. Sumanti actively tracks missing person cases in the United States, and peruses Reddit and other social media platforms to bring to light cases that frequently elude public attention. She has extensively covered the disappearances of Nancy Guthrie, Thomas Medlin, Beau Mann, and Sudiksha Konanki, among others. When not at work, you will either find her with her novels, or with her beloved rescue pooches.
Get the latest World News, breaking headlines and global updates from the US, UK, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Russia and other countries. Follow major international events on Hindustan Times.
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Home/World News/Shani Louk's dad pays heartbreaking tribute as she is laid to rest in Israel: ‘In your death you became a symbol’
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