The Status of Hostages in Gaza: A Comprehensive Analysis of Numbers and Exchanges

Israel celebrated the return of the final 20 living hostages held in Gaza during the initial phase of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire on Monday. Hamas stated they also released eight hostage bodies over the following two days. However, the Israeli military confirmed on Wednesday that one of the bodies released was not that of a hostage.

Palestinians celebrated as Israel freed approximately 2,000 prisoners and detainees as part of the first stage of the ceasefire agreement.

The October 7, 2023 attack by Hamas-led militants resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths, predominantly civilians, with 251 individuals taken hostage. The subsequent conflict has caused over 67,600 Palestinian fatalities in Gaza, primarily women and children, according to Gaza's Health Ministry statement on Saturday.

The Health Ministry does not differentiate between civilian and combatant casualties. As part of the Hamas-governed administration, the ministry maintains comprehensive casualty records that United Nations agencies and independent experts generally consider reliable.

A total of 251 hostages were captured during the October 7 attack. Four additional hostages were taken before this attack - two individuals who entered Gaza in 2014 and 2015, plus the remains of two soldiers killed during the 2014 war.

Of the hostages, 160 living individuals have been released through exchanges or other agreements, while 15 deceased hostages' remains have been returned through negotiated deals. Israeli forces have recovered 51 hostage bodies and successfully rescued eight hostages alive.

Currently, 21 hostage bodies remain in captivity. Additionally, the remains of three non-Israeli nationals - two Thai citizens and one Tanzanian - are still being held in Gaza.