David Brennan
Israel's punishing war on the Gaza Strip has thus far failed to free scores of hostages abducted during the Hamas October 7 infiltration attack into southern Israel, with the location and status of many of the prisoners unknown as the Palestinian exclave collapses under the weight of Israeli arms.
The Hamas-led attack saw more than 250 people abducted, and 1,163 killed per the latest figures published by the AFP citing government data. The subsequent Israeli offensive into Gaza has killed nearly 33,000 Palestinians, the Associated Press has reported citing data from the Gaza Health Ministry.
Exact figures have proven difficult to ascertain, such was the violence and chaos of the October 7 attack. The status of many hostages inside Gaza remains unclear amid the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) operation there. Hamas claims that several have been killed in IDF strikes. Hamas was also already holding some Israeli hostages before October 7, though it is not known whether they are still alive.
An IDF spokesperson told Newsweek on Friday that there are 134 hostages—among them 11 foreign nationals—still being held hostage, with 123 released.
A relative of one of the victims of the October 7 attacks visits an installation bearing photos of those who were killed or kidnapped during the event, at the site of the Nova festival in Re'im in southern Israel on April 2, 2024. More than 100 hostages are still being held in the Gaza Strip.
A handful of hostages have been released for humanitarian reasons or freed by Israeli military operations inside Gaza, while larger groups were freed as part of a seven-day ceasefire and prisoner swap in November.
Estimates of how many hostages remain have been fluid. In February, The New York Times reported there were 136 captives still in the Strip, and—citing Israeli intelligence officers—that at least 30 of these captives may already be dead. The Wall Street Journal reported last month that 130 hostages remain inside Gaza, at least 34 of whom are believed to have died.
Freeing the hostages is a central Israeli war goal, though observers have often noted that the IDF's intense bombardment of Gaza—and of the tunnels used by militants for a range of purposes, including to hold hostages—endangers the prisoners.
Hamas claims that Israeli airstrikes are responsible for several hostage deaths since October 7. Three Israeli hostages were also shot dead by IDF troops in Gaza in December.
The fate of the hostages is at the heart of the tortuous ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas. The militant group is demanding a full ceasefire and IDF withdrawal to secure the release of all remaining hostages, plus the release of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails and the return of all displaced Gazans to their homes.
The hostage issue has become politically charged inside Israel. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is facing sustained nationwide protests involving tens of thousands of people who feel his war cabinet is doing too little to free the captives.
"Whoever says that I am not doing everything to return our hostages is mistaken and is misleading others," Netanyahu said in a video statement released on Sunday. "Whoever knows the truth and still repeats this lie is causing unnecessary pain to the hostages' families."
"I reiterate: I am committed to returning all of our hostages, women and men, civilians and soldiers, the living and the victims. I will not leave even one behind."
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