More than 100 hostages held in the Gaza Strip have been released since they were taken in the cross-border Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel.
Estimates for the total number of hostages seized in the attack that left at least 1,200 people dead in Israel have shifted over the course of the war. As of Sunday, an estimated 117 living hostages remain in captivity in Gaza, according to numbers provided by Israel, but the country has not given the full basis for its estimates.
A deal between Israel and Hamas, mediated by Qatar, paused the fighting on Nov. 24 and allowed for the release of women and children in exchange for Palestinian women and teens in Israeli prisons. However, fighting restarted Dec. 1, with Israeli warplanes resuming strikes in Gaza.
During the pause, 81 Israeli citizens — including those who also hold citizenship from other countries — were released. Under the deal’s framework, every Israeli hostage freed would initiate the release of three Palestinian prisoners. Outside the framework of the exchange deal, 24 foreign nationals — who do not hold Israeli citizenship — were freed. Before the deal, some hostages — including two Americans — were also released or rescued.
The specific number of hostages who have died in captivity and the ages, genders and nationalities of those remaining in Gaza are unclear. Israel has estimated that the majority of those remaining have Israeli citizenship and are male. It’s unclear how many are members of the Israeli military.
Two Americans — Abigail Edan, 4, and Liat Beinin Atzili, 49 — have been released under the exchange deal. Fewer than 10 U.S. citizens are now held hostage, according to the White House.
By Sammy Westfall and Helier Cheung
Updated December 10, 2023 at 9:32 a.m. EST|Published November 30, 2023 at 11:08 a.m. EST
