October 7 · Personal story
Yonatan Samerano
Abducted
October 7, 2023
Abduction location
The entrance to Kibbutz Be’eri, after he fled the Nova festival near Re’im
Current outcome
Returned for burial · June 21, 2025
His body was recovered from Gaza and returned to Israel in June 2025.
01
Before 7 October
Yonatan Mordechai “Yonti” Samerano grew up in Tel Aviv’s Bitzaron neighborhood and attended Herzliya Gymnasium. The oldest of two brothers, he played football and basketball, drew, made music and appeared on children’s television. His mother recalled that at eight he persuaded relatives to give him money for a drum kit after she declined to buy one. As a young adult he produced events, founded a sound and lighting rental company and ran three businesses. His father remembered that he once sold about a thousand tickets for an Independence Day event; his younger brother Yair recalled cooking together and helping with events. Yonatan served in the Egoz commando unit after attending the Kinneret pre-army academy, traveled to Barcelona, Thailand and London, and shared decisions with his mother. He and his girlfriend Emma had been together for seven months.
02
7 October
At the Nova festival near Re’im, Yonatan and two friends drove toward Tel Aviv when the rocket fire began. Seeking shelter, they reached the gate of Kibbutz Be’eri. The attackers shot all three; Bnayahu Bitton and Maor Gratzyani were killed, and Yonatan was killed there as well. The attackers later took his body to Gaza. His mother recalled their last call at about 6:30 that morning, when the friends said they were coming home.
03
In Gaza
The Times of Israel dates the official notification to 4 December 2023, when the family was told that Yonatan had been killed on 7 October and that his body had been taken to Gaza. His body remained there until the recovery operation in June 2025.
04
Return and burial
Israeli forces recovered Yonatan’s body from Gaza on 21 June 2025. Three days later, on 24 June, he was buried at Nahalat Yitzhak Cemetery in Tel Aviv.
05
A life remembered
At his funeral, Yonatan’s father remembered the way music, feeling and love helped him connect with people, especially young artists. His family marked his birthday in 2024 and 2025 with music and dancing, in the style of the gatherings Yonatan used to create. His mother described their many daily phone calls, which ranged from school matters to whether he should buy a slushie or save his money.