Protests and labor strikes erupted in Israel after the navy mentioned on Sunday it had recovered the our bodies of six hostages from Gaza.
Dozens of different hostages taken within the Hamas-led assault on Israel on Oct. 7 stay in captivity, based on Israeli officers. Here is a have a look at what we learn about them.
What number of hostages are nonetheless in Gaza?
Greater than 60 dwelling hostages and the our bodies of about 35 others captured on October 7 however believed to be useless are nonetheless in Gaza, based on Israeli officers.
A complete of about 250 folks had been kidnapped on October 7, based on Israeli officers, together with 37 individuals who had been killed within the preliminary assault and whose our bodies had been returned to Gaza. These captured are principally civilians, but in addition embrace navy and safety personnel. These are males, ladies and kids, Israeli residents, in addition to residents of the USA, Nice Britain, France, Russia, Germany, Mexico, Thailand and different international locations.
What number of hostages are the People?
A complete of 12 US residents had been kidnapped in Gaza on October 7, based on the Israeli authorities. two of them Judith Raanan and her daughter Nathalie Raanan had been launched on October 20 following stress on Hamas from the USA and Qatar. Two others had been launched throughout the November ceasefire.
One of many hostages, 23-year-old Hersh Goldberg-Paulin, a twin Israeli-American citizen, was amongst six folks discovered useless in Gaza over the weekend. He was taken by music festival in southern Israel on October 7.
The American Jewish Committee, advocacy organization for world Jewry, listed on Saturday four American citizens who had been nonetheless stored alive in Gaza. They’re Edan Alexander, 20; Sagui Dekel-Chen, 35; Omer Neutra, 22; and Keith Siegel, 64. Three others are believed to be useless: Itai Chen, 19; Gadi Agei, 73; and Judy Weinstein Hagey, 70.
What number of hostages have been launched?
Since October 7, 117 folks have been launched, based on Israeli authorities. Greater than 100 had been launched throughout a week-long ceasefire in late November in trade for 240 Palestinians held in Israeli custody.
As well as, eight folks had been launched throughout Israeli navy operations. Final week, an Arab Bedouin citizen of Israel was rescued after Israeli commandos discovered him alone in a tunnel in southern Gaza.
In probably the most well-known hostage rescue, in June, troopers and particular operations police rescue four hostages from buildings within the metropolis of Nuseirat, in central Gaza. Dozens of Palestinians, together with ladies and kids, had been killed throughout this operation, based on the Gaza Well being Ministry.
In December, Israeli forces mistakenly killed three hostages who had escaped from their captors and had been attempting to meet up with them. The military mentioned the firing violated its guidelines of engagement.
What are the circumstances for these nonetheless in captivity?
Hostages they’ve returned from captivity in Gaza shed some gentle on the place they had been held and what the circumstances had been like. Some had been held in hospitals, others in residences, a mosque and even a demolished grocery store. Hamas can also be identified to be holding hostages underground in a network of tunnels. The Israeli military mentioned on Sunday that the our bodies of the six slain hostages had been present in a tunnel.
Many hostages who’ve left Gaza describe being moved a number of occasions throughout their captivity below closely armed guard. They report being subjected to physical and psychological abuse.
Andrey Kozlov, 27, Russian Israeli, granted detailed account from his time in captivity after being rescued by the Israeli military in June. He described being held in six locations within the first two months and being moved to an condo in mid-December. In some locations, he and the hostages he was being held with had solely a bucket for a bathroom and meals was scarce.
After the rescue of Mr. Kozlov and three different captives, Dr. Itai Pesach, head of the hostage return medical staff, mentioned they were malnourished. “They had been all abused, punished and tortured bodily and psychologically in some ways,” he mentioned.
Gabby Sobelman contributed reporting.
