Shani Louk, whose body was paraded through Gaza, laid to rest in Israeli funeral: ‘In your death you became a symbol’
The 22-year-old Israeli woman who was killed by Hamas and paraded half-naked through Gaza on Oct. 7 has been laid to rest in Israel — days after her remains were recovered in the Palestinian territory.
Shani Louk was buried at a ceremony in the Israeli town of Srigim on Sunday, and hundreds of mourners turned out to pay their respects, according to the Telegraph.
Louk was one of more than 360 civilians murdered when Hamas terrorists descended on the Nova music festival in southern Israel and began indiscriminately gunning down or taking attendees hostage.
“I want your forgiveness. We didn’t understand how dangerous it was for you to go there,” her 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.”
In the chaotic aftermath of the Oct. 7 massacre — during which over 1,200 people were killed in Israel — a photo emerged of Louk’s body stripped of clothing and dumped face down in a pickup truck full of Hamas terrorists.
The brutality of the photo instantly became a symbol of the horror of the day.
“In your death you became a symbol” her father said. “You were the light to the dark of that terror,” he said.
Louk’s body was returned to her family Friday after being recovered in Rafah by the Israeli Defense Forces troops conducting operations against Hamas terrorists.
“I didn’t believe we would ever see her body,” her mother Ricarda Louk said at the funeral, calling the return of her remains a “small gift” and adding that her daughter lived an “intense life with all of her heart.”
Louk, who also had German citizenship, was a tattoo artist who had a quick sense of humor and great creativity, her family said.
“I’m proud to have been able to receive your energy, your common sense,” said her brother Amit, who helped carry her casket at the ceremony.
“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.”
