More than 100 hostages held in the Gaza Strip have been released since they were captured in the Hamas cross-border attack on Israel on October 7.
Estimates of the total number of hostages seized in the attack, which killed around 1,200 people in Israel, have shifted as the war has progressed. Israel said 143 hostages remained in the Gaza Strip as of Thursday, but the country did not provide a complete basis for its estimates.
A Qatar-brokered deal between Israel and Hamas has paused fighting since November 24 and allows for the release of hostages, who are women and children, in exchange for Palestinian women and teenagers held in Israeli prisons . Since the break began, 75 Israeli citizens have been released, including those who also hold citizenship of other countries. Under the deal, each released Israeli hostage would trigger the release of three Palestinian prisoners. Outside the framework of the exchange agreement, 24 foreigners – who do not have Israeli citizenship – have been released since the break began. Before the deal, some hostages – including two Americans – were also released or rescued.
The demographics and nationalities of the hostages believed to remain in Gaza – and exactly how many died in captivity – remain unclear. Israel estimates that the majority of those remaining have Israeli citizenship and are men, including soldiers. It is unclear how many of the remaining hostages may be in the Israeli military. According to the White House, fewer than ten US citizens remain hostage.
Most of the hostages are believed to be held by Hamas, but some are believed to be held by other militant groups, including Palestinian Islamic Jihad, whose fighters were involved in the Oct. 7 attack. Israel said it discovered the bodies of at least two hostages it said were killed in captivity. Hamas says some hostages were killed in Israeli strikes. The Washington Post could not independently verify either side’s claim.
Here is a list of the hostages released so far and what is known about those who remain.