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Kidnapping of Shani Louk

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Louk in 2021

On 7 October 2023, during the Re'im music festival massacre, Shani Nicole Louk (7 February 2001[1][2] – 7 October 2023) a tattoo artist and influencer from Germany and Israel,[3][4][5][6] was kidnapped.

Early life

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Louk and her family moved to Portland, Oregon in the early 2000s.[7] She attended kindergarten at Portland Jewish Academy. She eventually moved to Tel Aviv.[8]

Re'im music festival massacre

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See the main article: Re'im music festival massacre

On 7 October 2023, during the early stages of the 2023 Israel–Hamas conflict, a group of Hamas terrorists entered Israel from the Gaza Strip and attacked the Supernova Sukkot Gathering music festival.[9][10][11] This festival celebrated the Jewish holiday of Sukkot and featured psychedelic trance music. It was held in the western Negev desert,[11] near the Re'im kibbutz, about 5 kilometers from the Gaza–Israel barrier.[9][12]

Shani Nicole Louk, a festival attendee, was there with her Mexican boyfriend.[13] When the attack began and the Red Color rocket warning alarm sounded,[12] she spoke with her mother on the phone. She mentioned the limited shelter options and her intention to find safety.[14][15] After the attack, a video emerged showing Louk in the back of a pickup truck, appearing unconscious.[16]

Early reports suggested that Louk had been killed, with the video seemingly showing her lifeless.[17][18] However, her mother, Ricarda Louk, maintained that she was alive. On 10 October, a Palestinian family friend informed Ricarda that Shani was receiving medical treatment in a hospital under Hamas' control.[19][16] In an interview with the German newspaper Bild, Ricarda confirmed that Shani was alive but had suffered a severe head injury and was in critical condition. She sought assistance from the German government.[20] Furthermore, Ricarda received a bank notice indicating that Shani's credit card had been used near the Indonesia Hospital in Gaza on 8 October.[20]

As of 10 October 2023, there has been no official confirmation from Israeli, German, or Palestinian authorities regarding Shani Louk's whereabouts or her current condition.[17][21] On 13 October, during a visit to Israel, Germany's Foreign Affairs Minister Annalena Baerbock met with Ricarda Louk and other family members of individuals who went missing after the attack. After the meeting, Ricarda stated at a press conference that German-Israeli citizens would receive support from Germany, and the German government was actively working to find solutions. Baerbock mentioned that Germany was in communication with various parties having contact with Hamas to convey the message that the hostages must be released.[22]

Spread of the video

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A video that appeared to show Shani Louk gained widespread attention.[23][24] In a column for The New York Times, Nicholas Kristof discussed this video as an example of the trauma and anger experienced by Jewish communities in the aftermath of the attacks.[25]

Security experts interviewed by Agence France-Presse stated that the release of this video, along with others depicting deceased or captured civilians, was a deliberate and sophisticated form of propaganda. The intention was to evoke feelings of "helplessness, paralysis, and humiliation" among the population. The viral sharing of such content contributed to promoting Hamas' narratives.[26]

Despite Hamas being banned on Twitter as a terrorist organization, some of its propaganda videos managed to circulate on the platform through sharing.[27] One of the discussed videos was the one that appeared to show Shani Louk. This, along with other Hamas-related content, led the European Commission to caution Twitter's owner, Elon Musk, about permitting the spread of illegal content.[28] Consequently, on 12 October, they initiated an investigation into Twitter for the dissemination of "violent and terrorist content" and other forms of illegal content.[29][30]

References

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  1. ↑ Kensche, Christine (8 October 2023). "Israel: In einer Grube stellten sie und ihre Freundin sich zwei Stunden lang tot". Die Welt (in German). Archived from the original on 12 October 2023. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  2. ↑ "Relatives of dozens killed or kidnapped to Gaza from rave: 'Nobody is helping us'". Times of Israel. 8 October 2023. Archived from the original on 12 October 2023. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  3. ↑ Evans, Holly (11 October 2023). "Mother of tattoo artist missing after Hamas attacks says daughter is alive". The Independent. Archived from the original on 11 October 2023. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  4. ↑ Steinberg, Jessica (9 October 2023). "Survivors share accounts of encounters with terrorists, and an escape from Gaza". Times of Israel. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  5. ↑ Terrones, Betty (11 October 2023). "Quién es Shani Louk, la joven influencer alemana que fue asesinada por Hamás en Israel". La República (in Spanish). Retrieved 13 October 2023. Who is Shani Louk, the young German influencer who was murdered by Hamas in Israel
  6. ↑ "Shani Louk, influencer capturada por Hamás, estaría viva en Gaza". El Tiempo Latino (in Spanish). 11 October 2023.
  7. ↑ Haas, Elise (10 October 2023). "'Tragic loss': One-time Portlander taken by Hamas". KOIN.com. Archived from the original on 11 October 2023. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  8. ↑ Kalisch, Muriel (8 October 2023). "(S+) Israel: Shani Louk, die Deutsche in der Gewalt der Hamas" [(S+) Israel: Shani Louk, the German in the hands of Hamas]. Der Spiegel (in German). Archived from the original on 8 October 2023. Retrieved 8 October 2023. Die Familie hat die junge Frau auf dem Video erkannt, ein Ex-Freund von Shani Louk hat es ihnen zugeschickt. … Die 22-Jährige lebt allein in Tel Aviv… (transl. The family recognized the young woman in the video; an ex-boyfriend of Shani Louk sent it to them. … The 22-year-old lives alone in Tel Aviv…)
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Gillett, Francesca (8 October 2023). "How an Israel music festival turned into a nightmare after Hamas attack". BBC News. Archived from the original on 8 October 2023. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  10. ↑ Tabachnick, Cara (8 October 2023). "Israelis search for loved ones with posts and pleas on social media". CBS News. Archived from the original on 8 October 2023. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Borschel-Dan, Amanda (7 October 2023). "Thousands flee rocket and gunfire at all-night desert 'Nature Party'; dozens missing". The Times of Israel. Archived from the original on 7 October 2023. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Morris, Loveday; Piper, Imogen; Sohyun Lee, Joyce; George, Susannah (8 October 2023). "How a night of dancing and revelry in Israel turned into a massacre". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 8 October 2023. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  13. ↑ Vieira, Eli (9 October 2023). "Shani Louk, a alemã morta, despida e vilipendiada pelos terroristas palestinos" (in Portuguese). Gazeta do Povo. Archived from the original on 10 October 2023. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
  14. ↑ Tanno, Sophie (8 October 2023). "Festivalgoers, children, soldiers: What we know about the people captured by Hamas". CNN. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  15. ↑ "Deutsche von Hamas verschleppt: Mutter von Shani Louk berichtet von letztem Gespräch mit Tochter – Blutbad bei Festival" [German kidnapped by Hamas: Shani Louk's mother reports on last conversation with daughter – bloodbath at the festival]. Rundschau Online (in German). 9 October 2023. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 Squires, Nick (11 October 2023). "German woman paraded by Hamas after festival massacre is 'still alive'". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Archived from the original on 11 October 2023. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 Attanasio, Joe (10 October 2023). "Shani Louk: New twist after festivalgoer paraded naked through Gaza streets". Yahoo News. Archived from the original on 11 October 2023. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
  18. ↑ Lukpat, Alyssa (9 October 2023). "What to Know About the Massacre at Israel Music Festival". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on 11 October 2023. Retrieved 12 October 2023. Hamas militants abducted and killed Shani Louk, a 30-year-old German-Israeli citizen who was attending the festival. They paraded her naked body around in a pick-up truck as supporters chanted "Allahu akbar."
  19. ↑ "Israel: Entführte Shani Louk soll laut Mutter schwer verletzt am Leben sein". Der Spiegel (in German). 11 October 2023. ISSN 2195-1349. Archived from the original on 12 October 2023. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 Marques, Caynã (10 October 2023). "Alemã sequestrada pelo Hamas está viva em hospital, dizem fontes palestinas" (in Portuguese). O POVO. Archived from the original on 10 October 2023. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
  21. ↑ Cohen, Rebecca; Ankel, Sophia (10 October 2023). "Shani Louk's mother believes her daughter, whose body was paraded on a Hamas truck, is still alive". Business Insider. Archived from the original on 11 October 2023. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  22. ↑ Zinsmeister, Nadja (13 October 2023). "Israel: Baerbock appelliert bei Treffen mit Mutter von Shani Louk an Hamas: "Lassen Sie diese Menschen frei"" [Israel: Baerbock appeals to Hamas at meetings with Shani Louk's mother: "Leave these people free"]. Frankfurter Rundschau (in German). Archived from the original on 15 October 2023. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  23. ↑ Agarwal, Mehak (9 October 2023). "Israel-Hamas war: German woman Shani Louk paraded naked by Hamas fighters was robbed, credit card stolen, says report". Business Today. Archived from the original on 10 October 2023. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  24. ↑ Fischer, Jan-Frederik; Schiller, Eva (10 October 2023). "Israel: Shani Louk - Deutsche Geisel der Hamas lebt" [Israel: Shani Louk – German Hamas hostage alive]. ZDF (in German). Archived from the original on 10 October 2023. Retrieved 10 October 2023. Das Video der schwer verletzten Shani Louk erlangte im Internet große Bekanntheit. (transl. The video of seriously injured Shani Louk became widely known on the Internet.)
  25. ↑ Kristof, Nicholas (11 October 2023). "Opinion | Seeking a Moral Compass in Gaza's War". The New York Times. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  26. ↑ Lebur, Célia (10 October 2023). "Hamas Waging Propaganda War On Israel With Shocking Videos: Experts". Barrons. Agence France-Presse. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  27. ↑ Goswami, Rohan (9 October 2023). "X, formerly Twitter, amplifies disinformation amid the Israel-Hamas conflict". CNBC. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  28. ↑ Beattie, Elizabeth (11 October 2023). "EU warns Musk over 'illegal' disinformation on X after Israel attack". The Japan Times. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  29. ↑ Monnier, Pierre (13 October 2023). "TOUT COMPRENDRE - Pourquoi l'Europe s'attaque au manque de modération de Twitter?" [UNDERSTAND IT ALL - Why is Europe tackling Twitter's lack of moderation?]. BFM TV (in French). Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  30. ↑ Fiachetti, Marie (13 October 2023). "Guerre Israël-Hamas : violence, désinformation… Pourquoi X (ex-Twitter) est-il pointé du doigt ?" [Israel-Hamas war: violence, disinformation… Why is X (ex-Twitter) singled out?]. L'Obs (in French). Retrieved 14 October 2023.
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