Israeli officials have reported that 128 hostages taken in the October 7 attacks are believed to still be in Gaza, with at least 34 confirmed dead. The Israel Defense Forces announced the discovery of the remains of Elyakim Libman, previously classified as a hostage in Gaza, within Israeli territory.
Israel maintains the classification of individuals as hostages until their remains are returned, regardless of their status. Among the hostages, not all are Israeli citizens, with eight being Thai nationals and one from Nepal.
The total number of hostages has varied over time, reflecting updates in intelligence gathered by Israel's military. Additionally, there are four hostages, two of whom are deceased, who have been held in Gaza since before October 7, according to the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office.
Regarding hostage negotiations, a Hamas delegation has recently arrived in Cairo to resume talks on hostages and a potential ceasefire. The proposed framework, though not fully agreed upon by Israel, suggests the release of 20 to 33 hostages over a period of weeks in exchange for a temporary ceasefire and the liberation of Palestinian prisoners.
Following this initial phase, sources indicate that efforts would focus on establishing sustainable calm, during which the remaining hostages, captive Israeli soldiers, and deceased hostages' bodies would be exchanged for additional Palestinian prisoners.
