The horrific imagery of 23-year-old German-Israeli Shani Louk lying semi-naked on a pickup truck has shocked the entire world. On Oct.7, she was brutally murdered by Hamas terrorists and then kidnapped into Gaza from the Nova Festival party in Re'im, while they were desecrating her body.
On Friday, her body was retrieved in a special operation by Israeli forces, with those of two more hostages – 28-year-old Amit Buskila and 56-year-old Itzik Gelerenter – all found deep inside Hamas' tunnel complex in the northern Gaza Strip, leading to worldwide coverage of young Louk's tragic story.
"Angel among demons," says the New York Post's front page, referring to Louk as a "symbol of Hamas' savagery," using AP's disturbing image depicting her kidnapping, eventually granting its photographer with the prestigious "Photo of The Year" award by The University of Missouri's Reynolds Journalism Institute, causing outrage and backlash in terms of ethics. The Times has also featured Louk's story on its front page with her picture seen smiling at a party.
She also appeared on the front pages of the Italian-based newspapers Corriere della Sera and La Stampa as well as the German Bild, commemorating their fellow German citizen both on their front page and in an expensive article on their website.
Louk was a talented tattoo artist, drawn to the art world from a young age. In recent years, she frequently traveled the world, attending music festivals that promoted peace and love. As a child, she taught herself how to sew and design her clothing, while also exploring painting, sculpting, and writing. Most recently, she ran her own studio specializing in unique, artistic tattoo designs reflective of her distinct personal style.
Nissim Louk, Shani's father, said his daughter's body retrieval "provides relief." He added, "They informed us that soldiers from a commando unit were in the area and found the bodies… she was in a relatively deep place in a very deep and cold tunnel, so the body's condition is really good. We are mourning, but there is a sense of relief. We call on the public to come to the funeral on Sunday. She brought light both in her life and in her death, this light will accompany the people of Israel."
