Hamas has indicated it is currently unable to identify and track down 40 Israeli hostages needed for the first phase of a ceasefire deal, according to an Israeli official and a source familiar with the discussions, raising fears that more hostages may be dead than are publicly known.
    • fukhueson@lemmy.worldEnglish
      01·
      7 months ago

      At one point both Israel and Hamas seemed to agree that there were approximately 200 250 hostages.

      https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/what-do-we-now-about-hamas-hostages-2023-10-19/

      HOW MANY HOSTAGES ARE THERE?

      An estimated 200 people, including 30 teenagers and young children and 20 people over the age of 60, are being held hostage in Gaza, Israel’s public broadcaster Kan said on Thursday, citing military sources.

      Hamas says it has 200 hostages and that 50 more are held by other armed groups in the enclave. It said more than 20 hostages have been killed by Israeli air strikes, but has not given any further details.

      Edit: Wikipedia cites a slightly higher number

      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2023_Israeli–Palestinian_prisoner_exchange

      In November 2023, Palestinian militants held around 250 people from Israel, including Israeli nationals and non-Israelis following their capture during the Hamas-led attack on Israel.

      Edit 2: my mistake, they corroborate their numbers (250)