Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated during a closed-door meeting with the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee that only half of the 101 hostages held by Hamas in Gaza are likely still alive. This information was reported by Israeli military radio and publications Times of Israel and Haaretz.
The most recent figures from the Israeli military indicate that 35 hostages have been confirmed dead after more than 11 months of intense fighting and bombings in Gaza. According to Hamas’ Health Ministry, more than 41,400 Palestinians have been killed.
Of the hostages, four had been held for several years, while 97 were captured during Hamas attacks on October 7, when the group took 251 hostages and killed 1,200 people in Israeli communities.
Netanyahu also denied accusations that he obstructed a deal for the release of hostages, reiterating that Israeli demands for a presence at the Egypt-Gaza border were part of complex negotiations that have been stalled due to escalating tensions in Lebanon.
