Israeli government spokesperson David Mencer told reporters on Monday that a list provided by Hamas shows 25 of the 33 hostages to be released in the first phase of the ceasefire deal are still alive.
Eight out of the 33 Israeli hostages to be released in the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire are dead, according to a Hamas list seen by the Israeli government.
Government spokesperson David Mencer told journalists Monday that the Hamas claims the other 25 are alive.
Israel has said the next release of hostages will take place on Thursday, followed by another on Saturday.
Whether hostages are alive or dead inside Gaza has been a heart-breaking question for waiting families who have pushed Israel’s government to reach a deal to free them, fearing that time was running out.
Around 90 hostages are still being held, and Israeli authorities believe between a third and a half of them were killed in the initial attack or died in captivity.
The ceasefire reached earlier this month after more than a year of negotiations is aimed at ending the 15-month war, which was triggered by the Hamas attack on 7 October 2023, as well as freeing hostages still held in Gaza in return for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.
The first phase of the ceasefire runs until early March and includes the release of a total of 33 hostages and nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners.
The second and far more difficult phase has yet to be negotiated. Talks on phase two are set to begin next Monday — day 16 of the ceasefire reached on 19 January.
Hamas has said it will not release the remaining hostages without an end to the war, while Israel has threatened to resume its offensive until Hamas is destroyed.
Both sides have yet to agree on a plan to govern Gaza. Hamas has said that it would be willing to step aside, but it may still seek a hand in any future government, which Israel has rejected.
