The aunt of Hamas victim Shani Louk, whose half-naked body was paraded by terrorist gunmen, is to join a car rally across Europe and Africa in a tribute to her niece.
Shani was last seen apparently lifeless on the back of a pickup truck in Israel, being abused by Hamas gunmen as they spat on her stripped body.
It is still unclear whether 22-year-old Shani, snatched as she danced at a rave, is alive and being kept as a hostage in Gaza or if she is dead.
Now, her aunt Orly Louk and her partner Wilfried Gehr from Reutlingen, Germany, are on their way to Marrakesh to take part in a car rally.
The convertible Mercedes was painted by 40 children who all wrote their names on it.
Now, says Orly, Shani’s name has been added to it as a tribute to her niece.
Orly said: “I’m going all this way for one reason only: to save my niece, my beloved Shani, who, like me, believed in peace.
“I’m taking this route for Shani.”
She added: “When we planned the rally, no one had any idea that we would now be in this situation.
“But I decided to go along.
“She loves travelling and she loves people. And that’s what we do; we drive all the way to Marrakesh, and I drive this way for Shani.”
The European Orient Rally, organised by Shani’s aunt, will cross Europe, finishing in Morocco on 15th October.
The rally normally ends in Jordan, on the Israeli border.
But Orly said on the rally’s website: “Due to the war in Syria and the political situation in the Middle East, the rally to Jordan will be paused until Jordan can be reached by land again.
“But because a year without a Europe Orient Rally is not good, the inventors of the mother of all low-budget rallies have chosen a new rally destination – Marrakesh.
“That’s why the Europa Orient Rally starts on 15th October 2023 in Morocco, yes, you read that right, in Morocco.”
In an earlier interview, Orly criticised the German government for not trying harder to bring Shani back.
Her partner Wilfried Gehr said: “We are unsettled and totally disappointed that the Federal Government does not feel responsible.
“Someone from the Foreign Office said he didn’t have time because they had to rebook flights. This makes me so angry.”
Orly added: “To everyone who says ‘It’s not our responsibility’, I beg you, bring her back to us!
“If any country manages to establish contacts with Gaza, it is Germany. If I could, I would go to Gaza myself right now and get them out.”
Shani’s disappearance came to light after video recordings from the attack on the Israeli rave festival Nova rave on 7th October emerged online.
