Since the attack, 117 hostages held in Gaza have been freed; most, including 81 Israelis and two Americans, were released as part of a deal between Israel and Hamas in November. Others — including two other Americans — were released or rescued outside of the deal.
The number of hostages who have died in captivity and the ages, genders and nationalities of those remaining in Gaza are unclear. Israel has estimated that the majority of those remaining have Israeli citizenship and are male. It’s unclear how many are members of the Israeli military. Several American hostages are still believed to be alive in Gaza.
While Hamas is thought to hold most of the hostages, some are believed to be held by other militant groups, including Palestinian Islamic Jihad, whose fighters also took part in the Oct. 7 attack. Israel blames Hamas for the deaths of some hostages, and has also said at least three were killed in its own operations. Hamas says Israeli strikes have killed some hostages. The Washington Post could not independently verify either side’s claims.
Here’s what we know about the hostages still held in Gaza and the names of those who have been released.
Number of hostages remaining in Gaza: An estimated 64
The Israeli prime minister’s office lists 97 hostages still held in Gaza, and has confirmed 33 of them as dead, bringing the estimated number of living hostages to 64.
Israel counts people who were taken on Oct. 7 into Gaza as hostages, whether they are alive or confirmed killed. Israel’s list also appears to include some who were killed in the attack and their bodies taken into Gaza.
The only children on Israel’s list of remaining hostages are Kfir Bibas, who was 9 months old when he was abducted, and his brother Ariel, who was 4 at the time. Israel has said it is assessing Hamas’s claims that the Bibas children and their mother, Shiri, were killed.
Seven of the remaining hostages are foreign nationals, according to Israel: six Thai citizens and one Nepali citizen.
Hostages reported dead: At least 70
In addition to the 33 hostages who Israel says were killed but whose bodies remain held by militants, Israel said it has recovered 37 bodies and taken them out of Gaza. It said it has been updating its list of hostages killed based on confirmation from “intelligence and other measures.”
The list of hostages whose bodies Israel has recovered includes several whose deaths it blames on Hamas — and some it says were killed in its own operations:
- September 2024: The Israel Defense Forces said the military recovered the bodies of six hostages: Carmel Gat, 40; Eden Yerushalmi, 24; Alexander Lobanov, 32; Almog Sarusi, 27; Ori Danino, 25, and Hersh Goldberg-Polin, 23, who was an Israeli American citizen. The IDF said they were killed “shortly before” their bodies were retrieved from a tunnel in the southern Gazan city of Rafah.
- August 2024: The Israel Defense Forces confirmed that the bodies of six hostages were returned from Khan Younis: Yagev Buchshtab, Alex Dancyg, Yoram Metzger, Avraham Munder, Chaim Peri and Nadav Popplewell. The IDF also said it had recovered the body of one IDF soldier taken into Gaza on Oct. 7 who was not named, at his family’s request.
- July 2024: The IDF said it recovered the bodies of civilian Maya Goren, 56, and four soldiers — Oren Goldin, Tomer Ahimas, Kiril Brodski and Ravid Aryeh Katz — from the Khan Younis area.
- May 2024: The IDF said that the bodies of Hanan Yablonka, Michel Nisenbaum and French-Mexican national Orion Hernandez were recovered from Jabalya in northern Gaza. Earlier, it said it recovered the bodies of Shani Louk, Amit Buskila, Ron Benjamin and Yitzchak Gelernter from tunnels in Jabalya.
- April 2024: The body of Elad Katzir was recovered, per the IDF, which said he was killed in captivity by Islamic Jihad.
- December 2023: Israel said its soldiers mistakenly shot dead three hostages — Yotam Haim and Alon Shamriz of Kibbutz Kfar Aza and Samer al-Talalka of Kibbutz Nir Am — during fighting in Gaza. Separately, the IDF said it recovered the bodies of six hostages: Ofir Tzarfati, Eden Zakaria, Ziv Dado, Ron Sherman, Nik Beizer and Elia Toledano.
- November 2023: The IDF recovered the bodies of Cpl. Noa Marciano, 19, and Yehudit Weiss, a 65-year-old who was taken from Kibbutz Beeri. After Hamas said Marciano was killed by an Israeli strike, the IDF said intelligence and a “preliminary pathological report” indicated that Hamas killed Marciano after an Israeli strike wounded her. The Post could not independently verify the claim, and Israel did not provide the evidence on which it based its assessment.
Hostages Israel believes were killed but have not been recovered include one who was killed in a rescue attempt. They also include one Tanzanian and two Thai nationals.
Number of hostages who have been freed: 117
The majority of hostages freed came during a deal between Israel and Hamas to exchange hostages for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel that began on Nov. 24. Initially agreed as a four-day deal, it was extended multiple times. The United States pushed for a broader deal that could also encompass the release of men and military personnel but negotiations broke down and hostilities resumed on Dec. 1.
- 78 Israeli and dual-national hostages were released as part of the exchange deal. Israel released 240 Palestinian prisoners — all women or teenagers.
- 3 Israeli Russian dual nationals were released as part of a separate agreement between Hamas and the Kremlin.
- 24 foreign nationals — 23 Thai and one Filipino — were released, which also came outside of the exchange deal.
- 12 were released or rescued outside of the deal. Four were released by Hamas and one was rescued in an Israeli operation in October 2023. Two others were rescued by Israeli forces in February 2024, four in June 2024 and one in August 2024.
Names of hostages released or freed outside of the deal
The four hostages released by Hamas in October included Americans Judith Raanan, 59, and her daughter Natalie, 17. Hamas said it released them on Oct. 20 for “humanitarian reasons,” without elaborating. Yocheved Lifshitz and Nurit Cooper, Israeli women in their 70s and 80s, were released Oct. 23, for what Hamas called “crushing humanitarian reasons.” Their husbands were also taken hostage on Oct. 7: The Israeli military confirmed the death of Cooper’s husband Amiram in captivity in June; his body, and Lifshitz’s husband, who is still believed to be alive, remains in Gaza.
Also in October, Israel said one of its soldiers who was taken in the Hamas incursion was released after a rescue operation. The soldier was identified as Pvt. Ori Megidish.
In mid-February, Israel’s military said it rescued two Israeli Argentine dual nationals, Fernando Simon Marman and Luis Har, amid deadly airstrikes on Rafah. In early June, the Israeli military announced the rescue of four hostages: Noa Argamani, Almog Meir Jan, Andrey Kozlov, and Shlomi Ziv, from two locations in Nuseirat in central Gaza. In August, Kaid Farhan al-Qadi, a 52-year-old member of Israel’s Arab Bedouin minority, was rescued from the south of Gaza, Israel’s military said.
Names of Israeli and dual-national hostages released during the deal
Nov. 24: The day the pause began, Israel’s Foreign Ministry confirmed that 13 Israelis were released.
- Doron Katz Asher, 34, German citizen
- Raz Asher, 4, German citizen
- Aviv Asher, 2, German citizen
- Daniel Aloni, 44
- Emilia Aloni, 5
- Ruth Munder, 78
- Keren Munder, 54
- Ohad Munder, 9
- Adina Moshe, 72
- Hanna Katzir, 77
- Margalit Mozes, 78, German citizen
- Channa Peri, 79
- Yaffa Adar, 85
Nov. 25: Israel’s Foreign Ministry confirmed that 13 Israelis were released.
- Noam Or, 17
- Alma Or, 13
- Shiri Weiss, 53
- Noga Weiss, 18
- Sharon Hertzman Avigdori, 52
- Noam Avigdori, 12
- Shoshan Haran, 67
- Adi Shoham, 38
- Naveh Shoham, 8
- Yahel Shoham, 3
- Hila Rotem Shoshani, 12
- Emily Toni Kornberg Hand, 8
- Maya Regev, 21
Nov. 26: The Israeli Foreign Ministry listed 14 Israelis who were released.
- Abigail Edan, 4, American citizen
- Alma Avraham, 84
- Aviva Adrienne Siegel, 62
- Hagar Brodetz, 40
- Ofri Brodetz, 10
- Yuval Brodetz, 8
- Oriya Brodetz, 4
- Chen Goldstein-Almog, 48
- Agam Goldstein-Almog, 17
- Gal Goldstein-Almog, 11
- Tal Goldstein-Almog, 8
- Dafna Elyakim, 15
- Ela Elyakim, 8
- Ron Krivoi, 25, an Israeli-Russian citizen, was included on the list, although he was released separately from the exchange deal.
Nov. 27: Israel’s Foreign Ministry listed 11 Israeli hostages as being released.
All those released on Nov. 27 have dual citizenship — French, Argentine and German, said Qatar’s Foreign Ministry.
- Eitan Yahalomi, 12, French citizen
- Karina Engel-Bart, 51, Argentine citizen
- Mika Engel, 18, Argentine citizen
- Yuval Engel, 12, Argentine citizen
- Sharon Aloni-Cunio, 34, Argentine citizen
- Yuli Cunio, 3, Argentine citizen
- Emma Cunio, 3, Argentine citizen
- Sahar Calderon, 16, French citizen
- Erez Calderon, 12, French citizen
- Or Yaakov, 16, German citizen
- Yagil Yaakov, 12, German citizen
Nov. 28: Israel’s Foreign Ministry said 10 Israeli hostages were released. One of the hostages was born in the Philippines, and some also hold Argentine citizenship, according to local media reports.
- Tamar Metzger, 78
- Ditza Heiman, 84
- Noralin Babadilla, 60, born in the Philippines
- Ada Sagi, 75
- Ofelia Adit Roitman, 77, born in Argentina
- Rimon Kirsht Buchshtav, 36
- Meirav Tal, 53
- Gabriela Leimberg, 59, Argentine citizen
- Mia Leimberg, 17, Argentine citizen
- Clara Marman, 63, Argentine citizen
Nov. 29: The Israeli prime minister’s office said 10 Israeli hostages were released. Two others with Russian citizenship were also released. Qatar’s and Germany’s foreign ministries said there were three German citizens released, but The Post could not confirm the name of one.
- Gal Tarshansky, 13
- Amit Shani, 15
- Liam Or, 18
- Itay Regev, 18
- Ofir Engel, 17, Dutch citizen
- Yarden Roman-Gat, 35, German citizen
- Moran Stela Yanai, 40
- Liat Beinin Atzili, 49, American citizen
- Ra’aya Rotem, 54
- Raz Ben-Ami, 56, German citizen
- Yelena Trupanov, 50, a Russian citizen, was included on the list but released separately from the exchange deal.
- Irena Tati, 73, a Russian citizen, was included on the list but released separately from the exchange deal.
Nov. 30: Hamas released eight Israeli hostages, Israel’s military said.
- Amit Soussana, 40
- Mia Shem, 21, French citizen
- Aisha Ziyadne, 17
- Bilal Ziyadne, 18
- Ilana Gritzewsky Kimchi, 30
- Nili Margalit, 41
- Shani Goren, 29
- Sapir Cohen, 29
Names of foreign-national hostages released during the deal
Some other foreign nationals — mostly Thai — were also released during the pause in fighting.
Nov. 24: 10 Thai nationals and one Filipino national were released, the Thai and Philippine foreign ministries confirmed. Israel’s Foreign Ministry also listed the names of those freed.
- Uthai Sangnuan, Thai national
- Uthai Thunsri, Thai national
- Buddee Saengboon, Thai national
- Bancha Kongmanee, Thai national
- Wichai Kalapat, 28, Thai national
- Withoon Phumee, 33, Thai national
- Mongkhol Phajuabboon, Thai national
- Boonthom Phankhong, Thai national
- Santi Boonphrom, Thai national
- Natthawaree Moonkan, Thai national
- Gelienor (Jimmy) Pacheco, 37, Filipino national
Nov. 25: The Thai Foreign Ministry said four Thai nationals were released, and they were named by a Thai public broadcaster.
- Nattaporn Onkaew
- Komkrit Chombua
- Anucha Angkaew
- Manee Jirachart
Nov. 26: The Thai Foreign Ministry said three Thai nationals had been released. Their names were published by the Israeli Foreign Ministry.
- Phonsawan Pinakalo
- Surin Kesungnoen
- Wichian Temthon
Nov. 28: Thailand’s foreign minister said he welcomed two Thai nationals who had been released. They were named by Israel’s Foreign Ministry.
- Pattanayut Tonsakree
- Owat Suriyasri, 40, father of two
Nov. 29: The Israeli prime minister’s office announced that four Thai nationals had been released into Israel. They were named by Thailand’s Foreign Ministry.
- Paiboon Rattanin
- Kong Saelao
- Juckapan Sikena
- Chalermchai Sangkaew
Lior Soroka, Itay Stern, Shira Rubin and Kate Brady contributed to this report.
