The Israeli military reported on Tuesday that more than 30 of the roughly 136 hostages still held by Hamas in Gaza have been killed since the start of the war.
The report that the death toll among hostages is higher than previously reported, combined with unconfirmed information that at least another 20 other hostages could have already been killed as well, according to the New York Times, comes as the American, Egyptian, and Qatari governments pursue an agreement to secure the release of the remaining hostages in exchange for a ceasefire and humanitarian aid to Gaza.
“We have informed 31 families that their captured loved ones are no longer among the living and that we have pronounced them dead,” Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, the military’s chief spokesman, said Tuesday after the Times report. “The IDF is accompanying the families of the hostages in these complex and difficult days, and our representatives are providing the families with any confirmed information on their loved ones.”
There have been conflicting reports about whether 31 or 32 hostages had been confirmed dead, representing the difficult task of locating and identifying where the hostages are being held and their well-being.
Hamas responded on Tuesday to a ceasefire proposal brought forth by the United States, Egypt, and Qatar, though how it responded remains unclear at this early stage.
Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al Thani said he was optimistic following the response, while U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, during a joint briefing with Al Thani, said the proposal would expand the previous ceasefire agreement that lasted about a week in late November 2023 and led to the release of more than 100 hostages.
Israel’s ultimate goal is to dismantle Hamas, demilitarize, and remove the terrorist organization from power, while Hamas leaders have said they want a permanent ceasefire and the removal of Israeli forces from Gaza in exchange for the release of the hostages.
Hamas took more than 240 people hostage during its Oct. 7, 2023, rampage that left roughly 1,200 people dead, many of whom were civilians, women, and children, while some also showed signs of being tortured or being burned beyond recognition.
There are believed to be six Americans among the remaining hostages, though it is unclear if any of their families were among those informed their loved ones were killed.
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The U.S. is hoping for a pause in the fighting that would include the release of the hostages and allow for additional humanitarian aid to be surged into Gaza due to the devastating impact of the war.
Israeli leaders continue to face difficult decisions regarding whether to prioritize the return of the hostages or their war ambitions of demilitarizing Hamas and removing them from power. The families of the hostages have frequently protested the choices of the Israeli government and urged them to do more to secure the release of their loved ones.
