Protests and labor strikes erupted across Israel after the army said on Sunday it had recovered the bodies of six hostages from Gaza.
Dozens of other hostages kidnapped on October 7 are being held in a Hamas-led attack on Israel, according to Israeli authorities. Here’s a look at what we know about them.
How many hostages are still in Gaza?
More than 60 living hostages, and the bodies of 35 others taken on October 7 but presumed dead, are still in Gaza, according to Israeli authorities.
According to Israeli officials, about 250 people were abducted on October 7, including 37 people who were killed in the initial attack and whose bodies were flown back to Gaza. Those taken were mainly civilians but also included military and security personnel. They were men, women and children, Israeli citizens as well as citizens of the United States, Britain, France, Russia, Germany, Mexico, Thailand and other countries.
How many Americans are hostages?
According to the Israeli government, 12 people with US citizenship were kidnapped in Gaza on October 7. Two of them, Judith Ranan and her daughter Natalie Ranan were released on October 20 after pressure on Hamas by the United States and Qatar. Two others were released during a ceasefire in November.
One of the hostages, Hersh Goldberg-Paulin, 23, a dual Israeli-American citizen, was among six people who were found dead in Gaza over the weekend. It was derived from music A festival in southern Israel Oct. On the 7th.
American Jewish Committee, An advocacy organization Listed on Saturdays, for Jewish people around the world Four American citizens Those who were still kept alive in Gaza. They are Aidan Alexander, 20; Sagui Dekel-Chen, 35; Omar Neutra, 22; and Keith Siegel, 64. Three others are believed to be dead: Itay Chen, 19; Gadi Haggai, 73; and Judy Weinstein Hegai, 70.
How many hostages were released?
Since October 7, 117 people have been freed, according to Israeli authorities. More than 100 were released during a week-long ceasefire in late November in exchange for 240 Palestinians held in Israeli detention.
In addition, eight people have been freed during Israeli military operations. Last week, a Bedouin Arab citizen of Israel was rescued by Israeli commandos after he was found alone in a tunnel in southern Gaza.
In the most high-profile hostage rescue, in June, soldiers and special operations police Four hostages were rescued From buildings in the city of Nusirat in central Gaza. According to the Ministry of Health in Gaza, many Palestinians, including women and children, were killed during that operation.
In December, Israeli forces mistakenly Killed three hostages who had escaped from their captors and were trying to get to them. The army said the firing violated its rules of engagement.
What are conditions like for those still incarcerated?
hostages who have returned from imprisonment It has shed some light on where they were held in Gaza and what the conditions were like. Some were housed in hospitals, others in apartments, mosques and destroyed supermarkets. Hamas is also known to hold hostages underground in A A network of tunnels. The Israeli military said on Sunday that the bodies of six slain hostages were found in a tunnel.
Many of the hostages who left Gaza described being moved frequently during their captivity under heavily armed guard. They are reported to be subject to Physical and mental abuse.
Andrei Kozlov, 27, a Russian Israeli, provides A detailed account His time in captivity after he was rescued by the Israeli army in June. He described being housed in six places in the first two months and moving into an apartment in mid-December. In some places, he and the hostages he was held with had only a bowl for a toilet, and food was scarce.
After the rescue of Mr. Kozlov and three other hostages, the head of the medical team to return the hostages, Dr. Itai Pesach said. They were malnourished. “They were all abused, punished and tortured in many ways, both physically and mentally,” he said.
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