The resumption of heavy Israeli strikes in Gaza instantly solid into query the standing of the remaining hostages held there by Hamas and different teams — with fewer than half of the 59 left nonetheless considered alive, in response to the Israeli authorities.
A latest New York Occasions evaluation confirmed that at the very least 41 hostages had died throughout their captivity by Hamas and its allies. Of the 251 individuals seized and brought into Gaza throughout the assaults on Oct. 7, 2023, 130 or extra hostages have been launched. The Israeli army has retrieved the our bodies of at the very least 40 others.
In January, Israel and Hamas agreed to a multi-stage truce that may enable for the trade of Hamas-captured hostages in Gaza in trade for Palestinian prisoners jailed by Israel.
The primary part of the cease-fire led to early March. Hamas launched 30 Israeli and foreign hostages and handed over eight our bodies, in trade for the Israeli launch of over 1,000 Palestinian prisoners. A number of hostages had already been rescued or released earlier than the 2 sides reached the settlement.
The destiny of the cease-fire was unclear, although, after Israel resumed heavy strikes into Gaza on Tuesday, citing Hamas’s repeated refusal to launch the remaining hostages. Earlier this month, President Trump sent warnings to Hamas militants to right away launch the remaining hostages in Gaza or face loss of life.
Hamas accused Israel early Tuesday of overturning the cease-fire, “exposing the prisoners in Gaza to an unknown destiny.”
