How many are still alive?

Hamas spokesman confesses: Guard killed hostage

Supporters and relatives of Israelis who have been held hostage by Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip since October at a rally in Tel Aviv.(Bild: APA/AFP/GIL COHEN-MAGEN)

Shortly before the start of a new round of negotiations on a possible hostage release, the terrorist organization Hamas has admitted to killing a kidnapped person.

The hostage held in Gaza had been killed by her guard. Two female hostages were seriously injured in a further incident, a spokesman for the terrorists announced on Monday evening. A commission of inquiry had been set up.

Hamas and Islamic Jihad repeatedly publish videos of hostages in order to increase the pressure on the Israeli government. However, these are usually undated, so they provide little information about how the people shown are actually doing.(Bild: APA/AFP/HAZEM BADER)

How many hostages are still alive?
The admission fueled speculation that several of the Hamas hostages were no longer alive. The terrorists had abducted more than 200 hostages during their advance into Israeli territory on October 7. Israel then launched a military operation to end the reign of terror in the Gaza Strip. Around 40,000 people have been killed so far. Although numerous top Hamas representatives are among them, the terrorist organization could not be destroyed.

According to Israeli estimates, Hamas is still holding 115 hostages in the Gaza Strip, many of whom are already dead. The Austrian-Israeli family man Tal Shoham is also still among the hostages.