The hostages include people from dozens of countries, while many also have Israeli citizenship.
Tel Aviv:
Gunmen from the Palestinian group Hamas took at least 200 hostages and killed about 1,400 people in an early morning attack on communities and military bases in southern Israel on October 7 from the Gaza Strip.
Israel has responded by bombarding Gaza with airstrikes, killing thousands of people, and has said it will act to free the hostages while rooting out Hamas.
Israel has amassed tanks and troops near the perimeter of the enclave and called on Palestinians to evacuate northern Gaza ahead of an expected ground invasion.
Hamas has suggested that the hostages could be swapped for about 6,000 Palestinians held in Israeli prisons.
In 2011, Israel was criticized by some of its citizens for trading 1,027 Palestinian prisoners to secure the release of one Israeli soldier.
Israel has said there will be no end to the blockade of the enclave without freedom for Israeli hostages.
The Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Gaza is expected to open from Friday for the delivery of limited amounts of aid.
HOW MANY HOSTAGES ARE THERE?
An estimated 200 people, including 30 minors and young children and 20 people over the age of 60, are being held hostage in Gaza, Israeli public broadcaster Kan said on Thursday, citing military sources.
Hamas says there are between 200 and 250. More than 20 hostages have been killed by Israeli airstrikes, according to Hamas, but no further details were given.
WHERE ARE THE HOSTAGES?
Israel says the hostages were taken to Gaza, but their exact whereabouts within the enclave are unknown, complicating their rescue. It is believed that many could be held in the warren of tunnels under Gaza that Israeli forces call the “Gaza Metro.”
Hamas on Monday released a video of Mia Schem, a 21-year-old French-Israeli woman who was captured at a dance party. The video shows her being treated by an unknown medical provider for an injury to her arm.
WHICH NATIONALITIES ARE THE HOSTAGES?
The hostages include people from dozens of countries, while many also have Israeli citizenship.
Twenty or more Americans are missing, US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said on Tuesday, adding that he could not say how many of them were being held hostage. Republican Senator Jim Risch told reporters on Tuesday that 10 of the hostages were Americans.
Thailand says 14 of its citizens are being held. The hostages include eight Germans, about half of whom were arrested in a kibbutz, according to local media.
Argentine President Alberto Fernandez said in a video call with families that 16 of his compatriots were being held.
At least nine British nationals have been killed and seven missing, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s spokesman said. During a trip to Israel on Thursday, Sunak met the families of two of the missing people, who are believed to be hostages and being held in Gaza.
France has not said exactly how many of its citizens are being held in Gaza, although seven are missing after the attacks, some of whom are being held hostage.
Ofir Engel, an 18-year-old Dutch national, was kidnapped from Kibbutz Be’eri and taken to Gaza, according to the Dutch government.
Portugal said it believes four missing Portuguese-Israelis have been taken hostage. Israeli-Chilean Dafna Garcovich was taken hostage along with her Spanish husband Ivan Illaramendi, her father said. Italy says two dual Italian-Israeli citizens are missing, suspected kidnapped.
Hamas’ armed wing said on October 16 that kidnapped non-Israelis were “guests” who would be released “when conditions on the ground allow.”
WHAT HAVE GOVERNMENTS SAY THEY ARE DOING ABOUT THEM?
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has appointed a retired general, Gal Hirsch, as Israel’s coordinator on hostages and missing persons.
Qatari mediators have said they have tried to negotiate the freedom of Israeli women and children captured by Hamas in exchange for the release of 36 Palestinian women and children from Israeli prisons, a source told Reuters. So far, there are no indications that a deal is in the works.
Turkey is also talking to Hamas to secure the release of foreigners, civilians and children, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on Tuesday. He told state news agency Andalou that countries such as the US and Germany have asked Turkey for help in obtaining the release of their citizens.
US President Joe Biden said his administration is “working hard” to find American hostages held by Hamas. The US has sent a small team of special operations forces to Israel to help with intelligence and planning for possible operations to rescue the hostages.
Britain’s Sunak has said his government is talking to partners in the region to try to secure the return of hostages.
Argentina’s Fernandez said his government was in talks with Israeli intelligence services to locate Argentine hostages.
Germany has opened an investigation into Hamas members for suspected murder, manslaughter and hostage-taking. Under German law, prosecutors are required to investigate suspected crimes abroad if they involve German citizens.
WHAT HAVE FAMILIES OF HOSTAGES SAY?
Families of missing French-Israeli citizens urged French President Emmanuel Macron to help locate their missing relatives.
The families of German hostages said they will hold a rally in Berlin on Sunday to call for the release of their relatives, after meeting German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Tel Aviv.
US citizens in Tel Aviv urged Biden to use all resources to locate and rescue their kidnapped relatives.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
