Less than half of the 250 hostages in Gaza are still there

When Hamas led raids on Israel on October 7, 2023, killing about 1,200 people, about 250 people were taken to Gaza hostage, including citizens of Israel, the United States, Britain, Mexico, Thailand and other countries.

Israeli officials said that among the prisoners were the bodies of 37 people killed in the attack. Officials say about 100 hostages, alive and dead, are still being held in the enclave.

the Ceasefire agreement Israel and Hamas announced on Wednesday that they would begin an initial six-week phase that would include the release of 33 hostages and hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. The agreement must still be formally ratified by the Israeli Cabinet.

Here’s a closer look at the hostage situation in Gaza.

How many hostages have already been released?

Early in the war, Hamas released four hostages – Two Israeli-American womenJudith Raanan, 59, and her daughter Natalie Raanan, 17, and Two Israeli womenNurit Cooper, 79, and Yocheved Lifshitz, 85, for humanitarian reasons. More than 100 hostages were released in November 2023 during Overlapping truce Between Israel and Hamas. In return, about 240 Palestinians detained in Israel were released.

How many hostages were rescued?

Eight hostages were released during Israeli military operations, including a hostage in the first month of the war, when the army He saved one soldierSoldier. Uri Megidish, then 19 years old, was kidnapped from her base.

In February 2024, a military operation took place in the city of Rafah, south of the Gaza Strip Two hostages were released: Fernando Simón Marman, then 60 years old, and Luis Harr, then 70 years old.

In June, the Israeli army released four people who were kidnapped from Nova Music Festival On October 10, September 7, 2023: Noah Argamani, then 26; Almog Meir Gan, 22; Andrei Kozlov, then 27 years old; and Shlomi Ziv, who was 41 years old at the time. Arjamani case Received great attention After circulated footage showed her being transported to Gaza on the back of a motorcycle, screaming in despair.

About 100 Palestinians were killed during the operation, according to Israeli authorities, but officials in Gaza said The death toll is more than 270Among them are 64 children. (No distinction was made between civilians and combatants.)

Last August, the IDF Saved Local authorities said that Farhan Al-Qadi, who was 52 years old at the time, and a member of the Bedouin Arab minority in Israel, participated in an operation that resulted in the killing of at least 20 Gazans.

How many hostages died?

Of the 250 hostages, about thirty are believed to have died at the beginning of the war, according to Israeli authorities.

Some of their bodies have since been found in Gaza and repatriated, while other prisoners who were initially believed to be alive were later announced dead.

The discoveries raised questions about the extent of Israel’s extensive military operations targeting Hamas as well It exposes prisoners to danger.

The Israeli army killed several hostages by mistake. In December 2023, the army said that its soldiers had opened fire by mistake Three hostages were killed Those who escaped their captors in Gaza: Yotam Haim, 28, and Alon Shamrez, 26, who were taken from Kibbutz Kfar Azza; Samer Talalqa (24 years old), who was kidnapped from Kibbutz Nir Am while working.

Last July, the IDF Bodies recovered Five hostages – two soldiers and three civilians, aged between 20 and 56. They were found in a tunnel shaft in southern Gaza.

Israeli officials said the prisoners were killed during the October 2023 attack and their bodies were taken as bargaining chips. The following month, Israeli forces said they had found the piece The bodies of six hostages In one of the Gaza tunnels.

In September, the Israeli army recovered the bodies of six more hostages, aged between 23 and 40, and said they had been killed in captivity. And he was among them Hersh Goldberg Pauline, Israeli-American whose parents spoke at the Democratic National Convention in August.

In March, Itai Chen family – A 19-year-old American who was born in Israel and was serving in the Israeli army – said he learned he was killed on October 7, 2023.

In December, the family of Omar Neutra, 21, an Israeli-American serving in the Israeli army, said they had learned that he, too, killing In October of that year. His parents spoke at the Republican National Convention in July.

This month the Israeli army He said Youssef and Hamza Ziadani are dead. Youssef Zayadna (53 years old) was taken hostage from a kibbutz along with three of his children, including his 23-year-old son Hamza and teenagers Bilal and Aisha, who were detained. free During the truce in November 2023. The family is part of Israel’s Bedouin Arab minority.

How many American hostages?

In a speech on Tuesday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that seven Americans remained in detention.

Aidan Alexander and Sagi Dekel Chen are believed to be as well alive as of December, According to the American Jewish Council.

A few of the remaining five were declared dead early in the war. Their bodies are still in Gaza.