Father of Slain Shani Louk Exits Knesset Race, Endorses Ofer Winter

Nissim Louk, whose daughter Shani Louk was tragically murdered by Hamas terrorists during the October 7 massacre at the Nova music festival, has announced his withdrawal from the Knesset race to endorse Ofer Winter’s Amcha Israel party.

Louk, who had previously been running as part of the right-wing Orot Hashachar party, announced that he will now actively support Winter’s election campaign.

In the years since the October 7 attacks, Louk has been a prominent advocate for stronger Israeli security policies and the relocation of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip.

Explaining his decision to back Winter, Louk expressed deep confidence in the former IDF officer’s leadership and his capability to implement a comprehensive policy for the relocation of individuals from Gaza.

“I believe that only one leader in this country is capable of carrying out and implementing the full relocation from Gaza, and that is Ofer Winter,” Louk stated. “Ofer is a leader driven by purpose and faith, for whom the security of Israel has always been and will always remain the guiding principle.”

Louk also highlighted the fact that Winter’s newly established party has no connection to the events of October 7, citing this as a crucial reason for his endorsement.

“Ofer Winter has established a new party that was not involved in the failures of October 7, and I am proud to officially announce my support for him,” Louk concluded.

IDF Confirms Killing of Hamas Terrorist Involved in Shani Louk’s Abduction

Louk’s announcement coincided with the IDF confirming the death of a Hamas terrorist involved in his daughter’s abduction during the October 7 massacre.

The military identified the deceased terrorist as Tamer Mohammad Ibrahim Al-Zabaq, who infiltrated Israel during the Hamas-led assault and actively participated in the attacks.

According to the IDF, Al-Zabaq was eliminated on Monday in an Israeli airstrike targeting the Jabalya area in northern Gaza.

Background: Shani Louk’s Abduction from the Nova Music Festival

Shani Louk, a 22-year-old German-Israeli tattoo artist, was attending the Nova music festival near Kibbutz Re’im when Hamas terrorists launched their brutal assault on southern Israel on October 7, 2023.

She was taken hostage during the assault, with early reports indicating she might have been alive after being abducted into Gaza.

Widely circulated video footage from the aftermath showed Hamas terrorists driving through Gaza with Louk’s partially clothed body in the back of a pickup truck, sparking international outrage and grave concerns for her welfare.

In late October 2023, Israeli forensic officials confirmed that Louk had been killed, based on the identification of a fragment of her skull.

Her remains were successfully recovered by IDF forces during operations in Gaza in May 2024 and subsequently returned to Israel for a proper burial.

Goldie Katz contributed to this report.

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