How many Israeli hostages are still held captive by Hamas in Gaza?

On Oct. 7, 2023, 251 hostages were kidnapped from Israel into the Gaza Strip. Some had already been murdered and their bodies were being held hostage by the terror group Hamas to be used as leverage in negotiations. Most of those abducted were Israeli citizens but several foreign nationals were also kidnapped on the day of the massacre. 

Currently, 97 hostages who were kidnapped into Gaza on Oct. 7 remain in captivity. It is believed that among them 64 individuals remain alive, according to an AFP database.

A total of 117 hostages were freed and returned to Israel in hostage deals, in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, some of whom had Israeli blood on their hands.

Another eight hostages were rescued by Israel Defense Forces, however, several have been killed while in Gaza.

The IDF has confirmed the deaths of 70 hostages, with 37 bodies recovered so far, while 33 are still being held by terrorists in Gaza.

The overall current hostage number, however, stands at 101, with 66 thought to be alive and 35 proclaimed dead. These numbers include two IDF soldiers, Hadar Goldin and Oron Shaul, who were killed in Gaza during Operation Protective Edge in 2014. Their bodies have been held by Hamas since then. In addition, there are two civilians, Avraham "Avera" Mengistu who crossed into Gaza on Sept. 7, 2014, and Hisham al-Sayed, a Bedouin-Israeli captured by Hamas in the Gaza Strip in 2015.

The hostages have proved essential for Hamas in negotiations, as pressure intensifies on the Israeli government to make a deal for their return.

After the brutal executions of six hostages who were close to being rescued, public demand for a deal has surged, with Israelis desperate to bring the remaining hostages home alive.

In a press conference last week, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu explained why he is unwilling to budge on keeping an IDF presence in the Philadelphi Corridor, which has become one of the main sticking points in a hostage release-truce deal between Israel and Hamas.

Citing concerns over a porous border through which Hamas can rearm, Netanyahu highlighted an additional danger if Israel were to withdraw its troops.

“You can't prevent Hamas from, not only, not smuggling weapons in, you can't prevent them from not smuggling terrorists, hostages out... They disappear in the Sinai and then they end up in Iran or in Yemen. They're gone forever.”

Netanyahu emphasized that military pressure and control of borders are necessary to compel Hamas to engage in serious negotiations.

“You need something to squeeze them, to prevent them, to put pressure on them to release the remaining hostages,” he said.

When challenged about the danger of losing the deal by refusing to withdraw from the Philadelphi Corridor, he warned, “Such a deal will kill us.”

“I'm willing to make a deal. I made one already, one that brought back 150 hostages, 117 alive. And I'm committed to return the remaining 101. I'll do everything I can to get them in,” Netanyahu continued.

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant has openly and publicly objected to Netanyahu's stance.

He has reiterated his position, which he says also reflects the professional opinion of the security establishment, that the IDF can – and should – vacate the corridor to reach an agreement with Hamas that would result in the release of a significant number of the remaining 101 Israeli hostages.