An Israeli government spokesperson has confirmed that eight of the remaining hostages set to be released by Hamas as part of a ceasefire agreement with Israel are deceased. The announcement came during a briefing where it was revealed that the rest of the 33 hostages expected to return from Gaza are alive, with seven already reunited with their families.
According to the spokesperson, the eight individuals were killed by Hamas, although the cause of death has not been disclosed by the Palestinian militant group. The ceasefire deal, initiated on January 19, aims to free dozens of hostages taken captive during the October 7 attacks by Hamas and other armed groups.
Israeli authorities have been in contact with the families of all hostages involved in the first phase of the agreement, which includes 21 men, three women, and two children ranging from two to 86 years old. Additionally, Israel will release close to 2,000 Palestinian prisoners as part of the deal.
The ceasefire marks a significant relief for the people of Gaza, who endured over 15 months of Israeli bombings following the October 7 attacks. Tens of thousands of displaced Palestinians have begun returning to northern Gaza, which suffered extensive damage from the prolonged airstrikes and ground operations.
Recent releases include four female Israeli soldiers who were freed on January 25 and received medical treatment in Israel. Some hostages, held in tunnels for over eight months, displayed signs of mild starvation and low vitamin levels upon release.
Israeli military officials noted that the mental health of the hostages is a complex issue, with younger captives faring better than older ones. The former hostages were provided with vitamins and food during their initial medical assessments at an Israeli military base.
It was mentioned that Hamas had improved the hostages' conditions before their release for propaganda purposes. The physical condition of the captives, particularly those held for an extended period, is expected to deteriorate as more are freed.
While questions about potential torture were not directly addressed, officials emphasized that the hostages would share their own experiences in due time.
