German tattoo artist taken hostage by Hamas ‘still alive’ says her mother

The mother of a tattoo artist feared to have been killed by Hamas terrorists has said her daughter is alive but in a critical condition.

Shani Louk, 22, was recognised by her distinctive tattoos and dreadlocks as she was driven off in a pick-up truck and paraded through the streets by Palestinian gunmen.

She had been attending the Supernova festival just three miles from the Gaza border with friends when they were caught in the crossfire during the attack on saturday.

Her mother Ricarda Louk told German newspaper Bild: “We now have evidence that Shani is alive but has a serious head injury and is in critical condition. Every minute is critical.

Addressing the German government, she said: “You have to act quickly and get Shani out of the Gaza Strip. We shouldn’t argue about questions of jurisdiction now!”

Shani had refused to take up the military service that is mandatory for Israelis due to her pacifist views with her German passport helped with this, her family said.

Her mother earlier released a video appeal asking for help to find out what happened to her daughter.

She said at the weekend: “This morning my daughter, Shani Nicole Louk, a German citizen, was kidnapped with a group of tourists in southern Israel by Palestinian Hamas.

“We were sent a video in which I could clearly see our daughter unconscious in the car with the Palestinians and them driving around the Gaza Strip.

“I ask you to send us any help or any news. Thank you very much.”