Shani Louk, symbol of Oct. 7 Hamas savagery, found dead in Rafah along with bodies of 2 other Israeli hostages

The body of Shani Louk has been found in Rafah, along with two other dead Israeli hostages — seven months after the 22-year-old tattoo artist was kidnapped from a music festival and then paraded half-naked through Gaza on Oct. 7, turning her into an international symbol of Hamas’ savagery.

“It’s really closing the circle. The body is back, we can bury her. It’s a little bit of relief that we know where her body is and that she will be here in Israel buried,” Shani’s mother Ricarda told The Post as part of a conversation with Rabbi Shmuley Boteach.

The Israeli military announced Friday that troops found Shani and the bodies of Amit Buskila, 28, and Itzik Gelernter, 58, during an overnight operation in Hamas’ last remaining stronghold city. 

Israeli troops are moving forward with operations in Rafah — where over one million Palestinians took shelter from the Gaza war — in an effort to wipe out the terrorist organization that launched the surprise attack on southern Israel.

Shani’s family learned she had been found Friday morning. Her father, Nissim Louk, said that her body was discovered in a cool, deep tunnel and was in excellent condition when she was brought home.

“That’s why the body is complete and beautiful and the skin is still the same color, you still see the tattoos, it’s amazing. The body we have now…looks like she’s alive,” said the grieving but grateful dad.

He said it was a “gift” that they were able to give their daughter a peaceful burial in Israel.

The Louks have not shied away from sharing the horrific images of their daughter’s last moments. At a pro-Israel event in Times Square on Tuesday, Nissim Louk, told The Post that the contrasting images of his daughter circulating in media reports have showed the world the “darkness” Israel is up against in its war with the terror group.

“This picture is very important because this picture shows from one side, Shani — beautiful, amazing, bright light to the world, and from the other side you see these militants in the pickup with machine guns that bring trouble and pain to the world and nobody can mix these two pictures,” the heartbroken father said in an exclusive interview.

“And whenever you don’t know who you are, you don’t know: ‘Am I the bad guy? Am I the good guy?’ You don’t know. Look at these pictures — and it immediately straightens everything out.”

Nissim said Friday that he spoke to Israeli soldiers who said the images of Shani inspired them to keep fighting in Gaza and wipe out Hamas.

More than 360 Israeli revelers were murdered by militants at the Nova festival, which became a key target in the unprovoked surprise attack on the Jewish state.

Louk was one of around 40 hostages seized during the bloody assault on the music festival. Her family announced in late October that she had died at the hands of Hamas, with Israel’s President Isaac Herzog later revealing to a German newspaper that she had been beheaded.

“My heart goes out in sympathy to the grieving and tormented families of the hostages Itzhak Gelerenter, Amit Buskila and Shani Louk, whose bodies were rescued from Gaza and will be brought for eternal rest in Israel,” Herzog wrote in an X post shortly after IDF announced the news of the bodies being found.

All three of the victims whose bodies were returned to Israel Friday left sorrowful loved ones behind.

Itzik Gelernter, described as a “young soul” both in his appearance and outlook on life, liked “the sea, beer, good food and good music,” his family said. 

In life he frequently enjoyed taking his grandchildren to plays and to the park, where he would join them in climbing, playing and swinging with the boundless energy of a much younger man.

He is survived by four children and two grandchildren. 

Amit Buskila was a fashion stylist and amateur cook who was attending the Nova music festival when Hamas attacked. She took refuge under a car after being shot in the hand, she told her uncle in a desperate phone call as she hid from terrorist gunmen.

Her uncle later said he heard her desperately pleading “no, no, no” with her attackers and barely managing to utter one final “I love you” before he heard gunshots and shouting in Arabic as the line went dead. She was never heard from again.

Israel estimates that around 100 hostages remain in Gaza, in addition to the bodies of approximately 30 more.

In a post on X Friday, the Israeli military vowed it would “continue operating to bring all of our hostages home.”