Israel has announced that eight of the remaining 26 hostages slated for release under the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement are confirmed dead. This revelation follows a list received from Hamas, which aligned with Israeli intelligence.
Government spokesman David Mencer stated that the families of the deceased have been informed, but the victims’ identities were not disclosed.
Since the ceasefire began on January 19, seven women have been released alive in exchange for over 290 Palestinian prisoners. Additional releases are expected in the coming days, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office confirming that three hostages will be freed on Thursday and another three on Saturday.
The hostage crisis stems from the October 7, 2023, cross-border attack by Hamas that resulted in 1,200 Israeli deaths and 251 abductions. Israel’s military response has since caused over 47,000 fatalities in Gaza, according to Hamas-run health authorities.
Negotiations for the second phase of the ceasefire, which aims to free the remaining hostages in exchange for further prisoner releases, a troop withdrawal, and sustained peace, are scheduled for February 4. Meanwhile, reconstruction efforts in Gaza are expected to take years, with provisions for returning the bodies of any remaining hostages.
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum has urged the Israeli government to ensure the safe return of all captives, emphasizing national unity until the last hostage is home.
