Twenty-one year old Yonatan Samerano has been buried in Israel after his body was recovered from Gaza by the IDF.
Samerano managed to escape from the Nova music festival when Hamas terrorists attacked on October 7, 2023. However, he and two friends went to Kibbutz Be’eri, which had also been overrun by Hamas, where they were murdered. His body was abducted into Gaza by an UNRWA social worker and remained there for 627 days.
In a eulogy today at Giv’atayim’s Nahalat Yitzhak Cemetery, Israel’s President Isaac Herzog asked Samerano for forgiveness.
Herzog said: “I stand here, at the funeral of Yonatan Samerano, of blessed memory, and as the President of the State of Israel, on behalf of the State of Israel, I ask for forgiveness from Yonatan, and with him also from Ofra Kidar, of blessed memory, and from Staff Sergeant Shai Levinson, of blessed memory, the beloved – forgiveness.
Funeral of Yonatan Samerano. 24 June 2025. Twitter/X Isaac Herzog, President of the State of Israel
“Forgiveness that the State of Israel did not protect you. Forgiveness that we did not manage to save you from the hands of the murderers. Forgiveness that it took so long to bring you back from the hands of human monsters. At this time – this tumultuous, historic moment – I remind us all: there is no complete and total victory until the last of our sons returns – some to their homes, and some to a grave in Israel.
Yonatan Samerano, murdered by Hamas on October 7th, 2023, previously pictured in London. Twitter/X
“I swear here, on behalf of the entire nation: no force in the world will make us forget our tortured brothers who remain there. I call from here to the decision-makers: we are at a pivotal moment! Now is the time to continue acting with determination, creativity, and urgency, by every means and with all our strength, until they return home.”
The funeral of Yonatan Samerano. 24 June 2025
The burial ceremony was led by former Chief Rabbi Israel Meir Lau.
Samerano’s body, together with those of Sgt Shai Levinson and Ofra Kedar, were retrieved by the IDF on Saturday.
