As many as 50 of the hostages taken from Israel by Hamas on Oct. 7 could be dead, a figure that is considerably higher than the 29 deaths Israel has publicly acknowledged, according to an Israeli assessment shared with U.S. and Egyptian officials.
The estimate was presented by Israel during hostage negotiations in Cairo in recent weeks, according to Egyptian officials, and has played a key role in negotiations for the release of hostages—alive and dead—still being held in Gaza.
If the latest Israeli estimate is correct, it would mean that around 80 of the 132 hostages believed held by Hamas or other militant groups are still alive and that militants are keeping dozens of bodies of people they kidnapped. None of the dead have been returned so far.Hamas militants and others from Gaza seized more than 240 hostages during their Oct. 7 assault on southern Israel, which included terrorist attacks on a music festival and agricultural communities and left 1,200 people dead, according to authorities.
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Israel has confirmed 32 hostages have been murdered by Hamas, They believe another 20 hostages may also have been murdered.
That means almost 40% of all hostages are dead.
Did their deaths “Free Palestine?”
Shame on all of you.
@NourishingGiraffeGreen2yrs2Y
how is it the fault of the people who said israel should stop bombing the hostages that the hostages got bombed?
Because you give Hamas legitimacy and licence to kidnap Israelis including children and the elderly by blaming Israel for defending itself. Even if they died as a result of an Israeli bomb, it is still 100% the fault of Hamas for kidnapping them in the first place.
@NourishingGiraffeGreen2yrs2Y
really seems like it's israel's fault for choosing to maintain an illegal belligerant occupation and continuously pursuing violence over negotiated settlement
For all of the Hamas apologists, Israel doesn't hold prisoners in holes in the ground, tied to chairs and denied medicine. What Hamas has done is torture, full stop. There is no comparison to Palestinians held in Israeli jails.
Supporting Hamas is supporting violence, disregard for the sanctity of human life, and values of basic decency towards others. No one, least of all civilians, vulnerable populations, and children should be treated in this way. There is NO context or excuse for such actions. Thank goodness they are home.
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