Shani Louk, No. 1 Tragic The Digital Biography 


Shani Louk is a name often associated with the tragic events of the Re’im music festival massacre that occurred on Oct. 7, 2023. 

Shani, born on Feb. 7, 2001, was a well-known tattoo artist and influencer who held dual nationality, being both from Germany and Israel. Regrettably, she lost her life during the October 2023 incident.

Shani Louk’s Early Life

In the early 2000s, Shani Louk and her family relocated to Portland, Oregon, as they began a new chapter in their lives.

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During her early years, Shani attended kindergarten at the Portland Jewish Academy, laying the foundation for her educational journey. 

Presently, she resides in the vibrant city of Tel Aviv, where she has established her current home.

Shani Louk’s Re’im Music Festival Massacre

For more detailed information on the Re’im Music Festival massacre, please refer to the main article: ‘Re’im Music Festival Massacre.’

On Oct. 7, 2023, during the initial stages of the 2023 Israel-Hamas conflict, a group of Hamas terrorists infiltrated Israel from the Gaza Strip. It attacked the Supernova Sukkot Gathering music festival. 

This festival, which celebrated the Jewish holiday of Sukkot and featured psychedelic trance music, was held in the western Negev desert, near the Re’im kibbutz, approximately 5 kilometers from the Gaza-Israel barrier.

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Shani Nicole Louk, a festival attendee, was present at the event with her Mexican boyfriend. When the attack commenced, and the red rocket warning alarm sounded, she spoke with her mother over the phone, expressing concerns about the limited shelter options and her intention to seek safety. 

Following the attack, a video surfaced showing Shani Louk in the back of a pickup truck, appearing unconscious. Initial reports indicated that Louk had been killed, as the video seemed to depict her lifeless. 

Nevertheless, her mother, Ricarda Louk, maintained that she was alive. On Oct. 10, a Palestinian family friend informed Ricarda that Shani was receiving medical treatment in a hospital under Hamas’ control. 

Speaking with the German newspaper Bild, Ricarda verified that Shani had indeed survived, though she had suffered a severe head injury that placed her in critical condition. This situation prompted her to seek help from the German government.

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Furthermore, Ricarda received a bank notice indicating that Shani’s credit card had been used near the Indonesia Hospital in Gaza on Oct. 8.

As of Oct. 10, 2023, there has been no official confirmation from Israeli, German, or Palestinian authorities regarding Shani Louk’s whereabouts or her current condition. 

During a visit to Israel on Oct. 13, Germany’s Foreign Affairs Minister Annalena Baerbock met with Ricarda Louk and other family members of individuals who went missing after the attack. 

Following 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.

Shani Louk’s Dissemination of the Video

A video seemingly featuring Shani Louk garnered significant attention, becoming a focal point of discussion. In a column for The New York Times, Nicholas Kristof used this video to illustrate the trauma and anger felt by Jewish communities in the aftermath of the attacks.

Security experts interviewed by Agence France-Presse emphasized that the release of this video, along with others portraying deceased or captured civilians, represented a deliberate and sophisticated form of propaganda. 

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The goal was to invoke feelings of ‘helplessness, paralysis, and humiliation’ among the population. The viral spread of such content played a role in advancing Hamas’ narratives.

Despite Hamas being banned on Twitter as a terrorist organization, specific propaganda videos managed to circulate on the platform through sharing. 

One of the prominently discussed videos was the one featuring Shani Louk. This, along with other content related to Hamas, prompted the European Commission to caution Twitter’s owner, Elon Musk, regarding disseminating illegal content. 

Subsequently, on Oct. 12, an investigation was initiated into Twitter for the spread of ‘violent and terrorist content’ and other forms of illegal material.

How was Shani Louk identiHow was Shani Louk identified? As reported by German and Israeli media, a cousin of Shani Louk conveyed that the family had received an official notification from the Israel Defence Forces and the voluntary emergency response organization Zaka. 

This notification confirmed the discovery of a bone from the base of Louk’s skull, which was subsequently matched with her DNA.

FAQs About Shani Louk

Is Hamas in Gaza?

HAMAS has been the de facto governing body in the Gaza Strip since 2007 when it ousted the Palestinian Authority from power. 

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Primarily in Gaza, it also maintains a presence in the West Bank, Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon, and critical regional capitals, such as Doha, Qatar, and Cairo, Egypt.

How was Shani Louk captured?

Louk was attending the festival in southern Israel on Oct. 7 when Hamas breached the border between Gaza and Israel.

Louk was kidnapped at the festival and “tortured and paraded around Gaza by Hamas terrorists,” the foreign ministry statement said, adding that she “experienced unfathomable horrors.”

How was Shani Louk identified?

According to reports in the German and Israeli media, a cousin of Louk’s they were told that the family received an official notice from the Israel Defence Forces and the voluntary emergency response organization Zaka that a bone from the base of Louk’s skull had been found and matched with Louk’s DNA.

Why did Shani kick his mother?

As a little child, Shani was very hungry and wanted food to be served. 

Chaya said he could eat only after the puja was done to Shiva. Shani got angry and kicked his mother. Due to this sin, Shani’s one leg became lame.

Does Shani have a wife?

Shani had two wives, Neelima and Damini. Neelima is the power of Shani and has the power of Brahma’s fifth head. Damini was a Gandharva. 

Once, when Shani was performing his Shiva pooja and ignored Damini, she cursed him for always having his eyes turned down and for his sight to bring him trouble.

Was Shani Louk found?

A 23-year-old German-Israeli woman who was kidnapped from the Nova music festival by Hamas militants on Oct. 7 has been declared dead, the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs has said. 

“We are devastated to share that the body of 23-year-old German-Israeli Shani (Louk) was found and identified,” the ministry posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, on Monday.

A source involved with her identification told CNN Louk’s death was announced after forensic examiners found a bone fragment from her skull.

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The fragment of bone originated from the petrous region of the temporal bone, situated at the skull’s base, typically in proximity to the carotid artery, a crucial blood vessel responsible for supplying blood to the brain.

A DNA test concluded the fragment belonged to Louk. Louk was attending the festival in southern Israel on Oct. 7 when Hamas breached the border between Gaza and Israel.

Louk was kidnapped at the festival and “tortured and paraded around Gaza by Hamas terrorists,” the foreign ministry statement said, adding that she “experienced unfathomable horrors.”

References

  1. Simple Wikipedia – Kidnapping of Shani Louk
  2. The Times of Israel – German-Israeli Shani Louk Seen Paraded by Terrorists in Gaza, Confirmed Dead
  3. Yahoo News – German-Israeli Shani Louk Confirmed
  4. The Jerusalem Post – Article 770787
  5. NewsNation Now – Shani Louk, Hamas Music Festival Hostage, Dead in Israel
  6. CNN – Shani Louk Confirmed Dead in Israel
  7. The Guardian – Family of Shani Louk Confirms Her Death in Hamas Rampage
  8. The Times of Israel – German-Israeli Shani Louk Seen Paraded by Terrorists in Gaza, Confirmed Dead
  9. BBC News – Shani Louk Kidnapped at Israeli Music Festival, Found Dead
  10. New York Post – Shani Louk Kidnapped at Israeli Music Festival, Found Dead