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More than 100 hostages held in the Gaza Strip have been released since they were taken in the cross-border Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel.
Estimates for the total number of hostages seized in the attack that left at least 1,200 people dead in Israel have shifted over the course of the war. As of Saturday, about 130 hostages remained in Gaza, according to numbers proed by Israel, but the country has not given the full basis for its estimates.
A deal between Israel and Hamas, mediated by Qatar, paused the fighting on Nov. 24, and allowed for the release of women and children in exchange for Palestinian women and teens in Israeli prisons. However, fighting restarted Friday, with Israeli warplanes resuming strikes in Gaza.
During the pause, 81 Israeli citizens — including those who also hold citizenship from other countries — were released. Under the deal’s framework, every Israeli hostage freed would initiate the release of three Palestinian prisoners. Outside the framework of the exchange deal, 24 foreign nationals — who do not hold Israeli citizenship — were freed. Before the deal, some hostages — including two Americans — were also released or rescued.
The specific number of hostages who have died in captivity, and the ages, genders and nationalities of those remaining in Gaza, are unclear. Israel has estimated that the majority of those remaining have Israeli citizenship and are male. It’s unclear how many are members of the Israeli military.
Two Americans — Abigail Edan, 4, and Liat Beinin Atzili, 49 — have been released under the exchange deal. Fewer than 10 U.S. citizens are now held hostage, according to the White House.
While Hamas is thought to hold most of the hostages, some are believed to be held by other militant groups, including Palestinian Islamic Jihad, whose fighters also took part in the Oct. 7 attack. Israel said it had recovered the bodies of at least three hostages in Gaza, and had confirmed the deaths of six others in Gaza. Hamas says Israeli strikes have killed some hostages. The Washington Post could not independently verify either side’s claim.
Here is a list of the hostages released and what is known about those who remain.
Inside the hard, circuitous route to a hostage release deal
Number of hostages who have been freed: 110Return to menu
Israel and Hamas initially agreed on a four-day deal that would pause hostilities to exchange captives. The deal, which began Nov. 24, was extended multiple times, allowing for the release of more hostages. The United States pushed for a broader deal that could also encompass the release of men and military personnel but negotiations broke down and hostilities resumed on Friday.
78 Israeli and dual-national hostages were released as part of the exchange deal that began on Nov. 24. As of Thursday, Israel had released 240 Palestinian prisoners — all women or teenagers.Three Israeli-Russian dual nationals were released as part of a separate agreement between Hamas and the Kremlin.A total of 24 foreign nationals — 23 Thai and one Filipino — were released, which also came outside of the exchange deal.Before the deal, at least five hostages were freed — four were released by Hamas, and one was rescued in an Israeli operation.
Who are the Palestinian prisoners Israel is prepared to release?
Number of hostages estimated remaining in Gaza: About 130Return to menu
More than 240 people are thought to have been abducted Oct. 7.
An infographic from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said Saturday that 137 hostages are still being held in Gaza. That number included at least six Israeli hostages that the government said had been killed in captivity, with their bodies still held by Hamas.
The infographic said there were 126 Israelis or dual nationals and 11 foreign citizens. Two are minors.
Fewer than 10 Americans remain in captivity in Gaza, according to John Kirby, spokesman for the White House National Security Council.
The remaining 11 foreign nationals include eight Thai citizens, one Nepali, one Tanzanian, and one French-Mexican, Levy said.
Names of Israeli and dual-national hostages released since the dealReturn to menu
Nov. 24: The day the pause began, Israel’s Foreign Ministry confirmed that 13 Israelis were released.
Doron Katz Asher, 34, German citizenRaz Asher, 4, German citizenAviv Asher, 2, German citizenDaniel Aloni, 44Emilia Aloni, 5Ruth Munder, 78Keren Munder, 54Ohad Munder, 9Adina Moshe, 72Hanna Katzir, 77Margalit Mozes, 78, German citizenChanna Peri, 79Yaffa Adar, 85
What they missed: Freed Israeli hostages return to tragedy and joys
Nov. 25: Israel’s Foreign Ministry confirmed that 13 Israelis were released.
Noam Or, 17Alma Or, 13Shiri Weiss, 53Noga Weiss, 18Sharon Hertzman Avigdori, 52Noam Avigdori, 12Shoshan Haran, 67Adi Shoham, 38Naveh Shoham, 8Yahel Shoham, 3Hila Rotem Shoshani, 12Emily Toni Kornberg Hand, 8Maya Regev Jirbi, 21
Nov. 26: The Israeli Foreign Ministry listed 14 Israelis who were released.
Abigail Edan, 4, American citizenAlma Avraham, 84Aviva Adrienne Siegel, 62Hagar Brodetz, 40Ofri Brodetz, 10Yuval Brodetz, 8Oriya Brodetz, 4Chen Goldstein-Almog, 48Agam Goldstein-Almog, 17Gal Goldstein-Almog, 11Tal Goldstein-Almog, 8Dafna Elyakim, 15Ela Elyakim, 8Ron Krivoi, 25, an Israeli-Russian citizen, was included on the list, although he was released separately from the exchange deal.
Nov. 27: Israel’s Foreign Ministry listed 11 Israeli hostages as being released.
All those released on Nov. 27 have dual citizenship — French, Argentine and German, said Qatar’s foreign minister, Al Ansari.
Eitan Yahalomi, 12, French citizenKarina Engel-Bart, 51, Argentine citizenMika Engel, 18, Argentine citizenYuval Engel, 12, Argentine citizenSharon Aloni-Cunio, 34, Argentine citizenYuli Cunio, 3, Argentine citizenEmma Cunio, 3, Argentine citizenSahar Calderon, 16, French citizenErez Calderon, 12, French citizenOr Yaakov, 16, German citizenYagil Yaakov, 12, German citizen
Nov. 28: Israel’s Foreign Ministry said 10 Israeli hostages were released. One of the hostages was born in the Philippines, and some also hold Argentine citizenship, according to local media reports.
Tamar Metzger, 78Ditza Heiman, 84Noralin Babadilla, 60, born in the Philippines Ada Sagi, 75Ofelia Adit Roitman, 77, born in ArgentinaRimon Kirsht Buchshtav, 36Meirav Tal, 53Gabriela Leimberg, 59, Argentine citizenMia Leimberg, 17, Argentine citizenClara Marman, 63, Argentine citizen
Nov. 29: The Israeli prime minister’s office said 10 Israeli hostages were released. Two others with Russian citizenship were also released. Qatar’s and Germany’s foreign ministries said there were three German citizens released, but The Post could not confirm the name of one.
Gal Tarshansky, 13Amit Shani, 15Liam Or, 18Itay Regev Jerbi, 18Ofir Engel, 17, Dutch citizen Yarden Roman-Gat, 35, German citizenMoran Stela Yanai, 40Liat Beinin Atzili, 49, American citizenRa’aya Rotem, 54Raz Ben-Ami, 56, German citizenYelena Trupanov, 50, a Russian citizen, was included on the list but released separately from the exchange deal.Irena Tati, 73, a Russian citizen, was included on the list but released separately from the exchange deal.
Nov. 30: Hamas released eight Israeli hostages, Israel’s military said.
Amit Soussana, 40Mia Shem, 21, French citizenAisha Ziyadne, 17Bilal Ziyadne, 18Ilana Gritzewsky Kimchi, 30Nili Margalit, 41Shani Goren, 29Sapir Cohen, 29Names of foreign national hostages released since the dealReturn to menu
Some other foreign nationals — mostly Thai — were also released during the pause in fighting.
Nov. 24: 10 Thai nationals and one Filipino national were released, the Thai and Philippine foreign ministries confirmed. Israel’s Foreign Ministry also listed the names of those freed.
Uthai Sangnuan, Thai nationalUthai Thunsri, Thai nationalBuddee Saengboon, Thai nationalBancha Kongmanee, Thai nationalWichai Kalapat, 28, Thai nationalWithoon Phumee, 33, Thai nationalMongkhol Phajuabboon, Thai nationalBoonthom Phankhong, Thai nationalSanti Boonphrom, Thai nationalNatthawaree Moonkan, Thai nationalGelienor (Jimmy) Pacheco, 37, Filipino national
Nov. 25: The Thai Foreign Ministry said four Thai nationals were released, and they were named by a Thai public broadcaster.
Nattaporn OnkaewKomkrit ChombuaAnucha AngkaewManee Jirachart
Nov. 26: The Thai Foreign Ministry said three Thai nationals had been released. Their names were published by the Israeli Foreign Ministry.
Phonsawan PinakaloSurin KesungnoenWichian Temthon
Nov. 28: Thailand’s foreign minister said he welcomed two Thai nationals who had been released. They were named by Israel’s Foreign Ministry.
Pattanayut TonsakreeOwat Suriyasri, 40, father of two
Nov. 29: The Israeli prime minister’s office announced that four Thai nationals had been released into Israel. They were named by Thailand’s Foreign Ministry.
Paiboon RattaninKong SaelaoJuckapan SikenaChalermchai Sangkaew
Israeli American mother released as husband remains in Hamas captivity
Names of hostages who were released or freed before the dealReturn to menu
Before the pause in fighting, Hamas released four hostages in two batches in October. Americans Judith Raanan, 59, and her daughter Natalie, 17, were released Oct. 20. Hamas said this was for “humanitarian reasons,” without elaborating.
Yocheved Lifshitz and Nurit Cooper, Israeli women in their 70s and 80s, were released Oct. 23, for what Hamas called “crushing humanitarian reasons.” Their husbands remain in captivity.
Israel said one of its soldiers who was taken in the Hamas incursion was released after a rescue operation in late October. The soldier was identified as Pvt. Ori Megidish.
Hostages reported dead in Gaza: At least 9Return to menu
It is unclear how many of the remaining hostages are still alive.
Israel has said it discovered the bodies of two hostages — 19-year-old Cpl. Noa Marciano and Yehudit Weiss, a 65-year-old who had been taken hostage from Kibbutz Beeri — who were “murdered in captivity.” After Hamas said Marciano was killed by an Israeli strike, the Israel Defense Forces said intelligence and a “preliminary pathological report” indicated that Hamas killed Marciano after an Israeli strike wounded her. The Post could not independently verify the claim, and Israel did not proe the eence on which it based its assessment. Hamas militants have said that some hostages have been killed in Israeli airstrikes, but they have not produced eence that corroborates their claims.
Lior Soroka, Shira Rubin and Kate Brady contributed to this report
