On October 7, 2023, 21-year-old Yonatan Samerano was at the Nova Music Festival with friends when the Hamas attacks began. After fleeing to nearby Kibbutz Be’eri, Yonatan was shot by invading terrorists. His lifeless body was then kidnapped by UNRWA social worker Faisal Ali Mussalem al-Naami into the Gaza Strip. After being held captive for 625 days, Israeli forces recovered Yonatan’s body earlier this week.
On Tuesday, Yonatan’s parents, Ayelet and Kobi Samerano, together with hundreds of mourners, were finally able to lay their son to rest in Tel Aviv. UN Watch sends its deepest condolences to the Samerano family.
May Yonatan’s memory be a blessing.
UN Watch campaigned together with Yonatan’s mother, Ayelet Samerano, for his release and justice at the UN
In February 2024, Ayelet addressed UN Watch’s International Summit for a Future Beyond UNRWA at the UN European Headquarters in Geneva. She directly appealed to UN Secretary-General António Guterres, pleading: “Mr. Guterres, look me in the eyes and answer me now: Where is my son? Bring him back home.” Her call went unanswered.
In August 2024, UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini delivered the keynote address for the city of Lausanne’s National Day celebrations. We brought Ayelet to Lausanne, where she confronted Lazzarini, crying out: “UNRWA kidnapped my son. Where is he, Mr. Lazzarini?” Again, she received no response.
Most recently, in March 2025, UN Watch invited Ayelet to address the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. Ayelet had one question for the council: “I ask the United Nations: Where is my son?” Once more, she received no answer.
After 20 months of unimaginable suffering and 20 months of silence from the UN, Ayelet and her family have finally been able to lay Yonatan to rest at home in Israel.
50 hostages still remain in Hamas captivity in Gaza. UN Watch renews its call for all the remaining hostages to be released immediately and unconditionally.
On Oct. 7, 2023, 21-year-old Yonatan Samerano was shot dead & kidnapped into Gaza by an UNRWA social worker.
625 days later, Yonatan's body has been recovered by Israeli forces.
Throughout this ordeal, UN Watch has campaigned with his mother, Ayelet, for justice at the UN: 🧵 pic.twitter.com/9XODNa62vS
— UN Watch (@UNWatch) June 22, 2025
