A big difference from the previously known 29 deaths.
The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported on the 6th (local time) that the Israeli government estimates that 50 hostages held by the Palestinian armed political faction Hamas have already died.
This is a significant difference from the death toll of 29 that Israel previously officially acknowledged, and Israel reportedly shared new information with U.S. and Egyptian officials.
According to Egyptian officials, this estimate was presented by Israel during recent hostage negotiations in Cairo, the WSJ reported.
If the new estimates are true, it means that 80 of the 132 hostages held by Hamas are alive. To date, no hostage deaths have been handed over to Israel.
Hamas militants kidnapped about 240 hostages when they attacked southern Israel on October 7 last year. 1,200 people were killed as Hamas indiscriminately attacked concert venues and local community residents.
The number of hostages alive and dead is at the heart of negotiations between Israel and Hamas mediated by the United States, Egypt and Qatar.
The hostage issue is an extremely sensitive political issue in Israel, and hostage families have put pressure on the government to do more to free the hostages.
Separately, Israel said Hamas was holding two bodies of hostages killed during the 2014 Gaza war. Considering that Hamas had already detained two Israelis before October 7 last year, the total number of dead or alive Israeli hostages is 136.
Egyptian officials said Hamas told negotiators it did not know the exact number of hostage deaths.
Hamas also claimed that some of its hostages were killed in Israeli airstrikes. Israel does not recognize this.
U.S. Secretary of State Tony Blinken visited Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Egypt to bring about a ceasefire. He is also scheduled to visit Israel and the West Bank.
According to the draft agreement proposed by the United States, Egypt, and Qatar and approved by Israel’s Foreign Intelligence Service, Hamas would release civilians first and soldiers later.
The issue on which the two sides are at odds is a ceasefire. Israel claims that only a temporary ceasefire is possible, while Hamas wants an end to the war.
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.