JERUSALEM — Israel’s announcement that four more hostages died in Hamas captivity, including three men in their 80s, stoked fears that time is running out for those captives in Gaza who are still alive.
It sparked protests across Israel calling for an immediate ceasefire agreement that would secure the release of the dozens of remaining captives in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.
About eight months into the war between Israel and Hamas, here’s where things stand, according to official Israeli figures:
The hostage crisis in Israel began when Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, killing about 1,200 people and kidnapping about 250 to return to Gaza.
Of the hostages taken, 105 were freed during a week-long ceasefire in November, in exchange for 240 Palestinian prisoners. Among the freed hostages were 81 Israeli citizens and 24 foreigners, most of them thai.
Four female hostages were freed before this ceasefire through agreements negotiated by the United States and other mediators.
After the November ceasefire, more than 120 hostages remained in Gaza, including four Israelis captured years earlier. Two of them, Hadar Goldin and Oron Shaul, were Israeli soldiers believed to have died in a 2014 war.
Of those still in captivity, Israel has declared 43 dead, saying their remains are in the hands of militants. Some are believed to have died during the October 7 attack. The cause of death of other people is unknown, although Hamas has claimed that some were killed in Israeli airstrikes. Israeli officials believe the number of hostages killed could be higher.
There are about 80 hostages abandoned in Gaza whom Israel has not declared dead.
That includes about 15 women and 2 children under 5 years old. kfir and Ariel Bibas, whose mother, Shiri Bibas, is also still in captivity. Among the captives are also two men in their 80s.
Also included Hersh Polin-Goldberg, a 23-year-old American-Israeli who was taken hostage at a music festival where more than 300 people died. Polin-Goldberg’s parents have led a global campaign to call for their son’s release and draw attention to the plight of the hostages. Hamas released a video of Polin-Goldberg in April. Seriously injured in the October 7 attack, he had his left hand amputated. But the video marked the first sign that he was alive.
Another hostage believed to be alive is Noa Argamani, 26, whose mother, Liora Argamani, has stage 4 breast cancer and hopes to see his daughter alive once again.
Israeli troops have recovered the bodies of at least 16 hostages from Gaza, according to Israeli government figures.
The bodies of two hostages, including soldier Noa Marciano, were brought from Gaza in November. This is how the bodies of three hostages were killed by friendly fire in December.
the bodies of seven hostagestwo women and five men, were recovered in Gaza last month.
The Israeli military says it has rescued three hostages in Gaza.
He took 1 home immediately after the October 7 attack.
two men were rescued in february when troops broke into a heavily guarded apartment in a densely populated city in the Gaza Strip. Airstrikes carried out to provide cover during the raid killed more than 60 Palestinians, including women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
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