Israel believes that “at least one or two” hostages being held in Gaza are currently in critical condition, according to a Hebrew-language media report released today. The update comes just a day after President Donald Trump stated that fewer than 20 hostages remain alive, a claim that contradicts Israel’s official numbers and has left many families of the captives in distress.
Channel 12 reported that Israeli officials fear several of the surviving hostages are in immediate danger and are in desperate need of medical assistance.
“Releasing the hostages is an urgent need,” a senior Israeli official told Channel 12.
The network noted, however, that officials remain uncertain about what led Trump to conclude during Friday’s press conference that “a couple of them are not around any longer.”
Following Trump’s statements, Israel’s hostage affairs coordinator, Gal Hirsch, reassured the families in a written message: “According to the information we have, there is no change in the number of living hostages.”
Hirsch clarified the figures in his note to the families: “Twenty of the hostages are alive, two [others] are in grave danger for their lives, 28 are no longer alive and have been declared deceased.”
Despite these assurances, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum has demanded that the government provide them with all available information about the condition of their loved ones.
Israel has consistently maintained that terror groups in Gaza are holding a total of 50 hostages, including 49 of the 251 people abducted during the Hamas-led assault on October 7, 2023. The IDF has confirmed that the remains of at least 28 captives are in Gaza. Twenty are believed to still be alive, and Israeli officials have expressed significant concern for the well-being of two others. Hamas is also holding the body of an IDF soldier who was killed in Gaza during 2014.
The increased alarm over the hostages comes as Israel prepares to carry out a major military operation to seize control of Gaza City, even as international mediators work urgently to resume negotiations in hopes of averting the planned assault.
According to Channel 13, Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu agreed on Saturday to send an Israeli delegation to participate in talks with mediators aimed at securing a ceasefire in Gaza. This decision came nearly a week after Hamas said it had accepted a proposal for a partial deal that Israel had previously approved.
The report said Netanyahu’s move followed warnings presented in a high-level meeting that the hostages could face execution by Hamas or risk being killed by Israeli strikes if the army proceeds with its planned ground offensive on Gaza City.
{Matzav.com}
