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 some 1,200 people dead in Israel have shifted over the course of the war. As of Thursday, 143 hostages remain 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, has paused the fighting since Nov. 24 and allowed for the release of hostages who are women and children in exchange for Palestinian women and teens held in Israeli prisons. Since the pause began, 75 Israeli citizens — including those who also hold citizenship from other countries — have been 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 — have been released since the pause began. Before the deal, some hostages — including two Americans — were also released or rescued.
The demographics and nationalities of the hostages believed to be remaining in Gaza — and exactly how many have died while in captivity — remains unclear. Israel has estimated that the majority of those remaining have Israeli citizenship and are men, including soldiers. It’s unclear how many of the remaining hostages may be in the Israeli military. Fewer than 10 U.S. citizens remain hostages, according to the White House.
While Hamas is thought to hold most of the hostages, some are believed to be held by other militant groups, including Palestinian Islamic Jihad, whose fighters took part in the Oct. 7 attack. Israel said it discovered the bodies of at least two hostages it claimed were killed in captivity. Hamas says Israeli strikes have killed some hostages. The Washington Post could not independently verify either side’s claim.
Here is a list of the hostages released so far and what is known about those who remain.
David Turner is a globe-trotting journalist who brings a global perspective to our readers. With a commitment to shedding light on international events, he explores complex geopolitical issues, offering a nuanced view of the world’s most pressing challenges.
