Israel Confirms Death of 8 Hostages Held by Hamas Amid Exchange Process Ongoing

On January 27, the Israeli government confirmed the tragic news of the deaths of eight Israeli citizens who had been taken hostage by Hamas militants during an attack on October 7, 2023. This information came amid ongoing hostage exchange efforts as part of a ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip, reports NewsBox.

The Israeli government's spokesperson, David Menzer, stated that out of the 33 Israelis expected to be freed under the deal, only 25 are alive. The remaining eight, as authorities confirmed, perished during their captivity. Their bodies will be returned to their families as part of the "release" process, according to BBC.

Menzer also noted that the list provided by Hamas matches the Israeli intelligence records entirely, emphasizing that the intelligence services had been informed of all fatality cases.

"The list received from Hamas corresponds with the Israeli intelligence data," Menzer stated. "Therefore, I can inform you that 25 of our hostages are alive, while eight were killed by Hamas militants."

The families of the victims have been informed of the tragic circumstances surrounding their loved ones' deaths.

The reached agreement anticipates the release of 33 Israeli citizens in exchange for about 1,900 Palestinians held in Israeli prisons. So far, under two exchange phases, seven hostages—all women—have been freed.

Four Israeli women—Karina Ariev, Daniella Gilboa, Naama Levi, and Liri Albag—returned home on Saturday. They were serving in a military unit monitoring the Gaza border and were captured during an assault on their base on October 7. Earlier, on the day the ceasefire was announced, Romi Gonen, Doron Steinbrecher, and Emily Damari were released.

Now, out of the remaining 26 hostages on the exchange list, only 18 are confirmed to be alive according to the latest information.

The freed hostages have shared with the Israeli military doctor Avi Banov the harrowing details of their captivity. Some were held for months in underground tunnels, deprived of daylight and with minimal human contact. It is reported that some spent their entire captivity—over a year—in such conditions. The hostages also noted that in the final days before their release, their conditions improved. They were allowed to take a shower, change into clean clothes, and received better food.

When asked about the presence of signs of torture or maltreatment on the hostages' bodies, the doctor declined to answer, citing medical confidentiality.