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.
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.
Here is a list of the hostages released so far and what is known about those who remain.
Number of hostages who have been freed so far: 104
Israel and Hamas initially agreed on a four-day deal that would pause hostilities to exchange captives. The deal, which began Nov. 24, has since been extended multiple times, allowing for the release of more hostages. The United States has pushed for a broader deal that could also encompass the release of men and military personnel.
- 72 Israeli and dual-national hostages have been released as part of the exchange deal began on Nov. 24. As of Wednesday, Israel has released more than 200 Palestinian prisoners — all women or teenagers.
- 3 Israeli-Russian dual nationals were released as part of a separate agreement between Hamas and the Kremlin.
- A total of 24 foreign nationals — 23 Thai and one Filipino — were released, which also came outside of the exchange deal.
- Before the deal, at least five hostages were freed — four were released by Hamas, and one was rescued in an Israeli operation.
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Number of hostages estimated remaining in Gaza: 143
More than 240 people were believed to be abducted Oct. 7.
Israeli government spokesman Eylon Levy said Thursday that 145 hostages are still being held in Gaza, and the subsequent release of two hostages would bring that number to 143. Of those, there are 132 Israelis or dual nationals and 11 foreign nationals.
The majority of the hostages, 117, are men, Levy said. There are now an estimated 26 women in the group. Israel said there are 10 hostages who are more than 75 years old, including husbands of elderly women who have already been released.
Fewer than 10 Americans remain in captivity in Gaza, according to White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby. So far two Americans — Abigail Edan, 4, and Liat Beinin Atzili, 49, have been released.
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Names of Israeli and dual-national hostages released since the deal
Nov. 24: The day the pause began, Israel’s Foreign Ministry confirmed that 13 Israelis were released.
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Names of foreign national hostages released since the deal
Some other foreign nationals — mostly Thai — have also been released since the pause in fighting began.
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Names of hostages who were released or freed before the deal
Before the pause in fighting, Hamas released four hostages, in two batches in October. Americans Judith Raanan, 59, and her daughter Natalie, 17, were released on Oct. 20. Hamas said this was for “humanitarian reasons,” without elaborating.
Yocheved Lifshitz and Nurit Cooper, Israeli women in their 70s and 80s, were released on Oct. 23, for what Hamas called “crushing humanitarian reasons.” Their husbands remain in captivity.
Israel said one of its soldiers who was taken in the Hamas incursion was released after a rescue operation in late October. The soldier was identified as Pvt. Ori Megidish.
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Hostages confirmed dead in Gaza: At least 2
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View in this November 30 The Washington Post report.