Practically a 12 months since Hamas and different militant teams kidnapped a minimum of 251 folks from Israel into Gaza, a cease-fire deal more than likely to get them out alive and finish the hovering dying toll amongst Palestinians has remained elusive. Final month’s recovery of six hostages who have been killed by their captors shortly earlier than they have been discovered by Israeli troopers added recent urgency to the desperation of families nonetheless ready for his or her family members’ return.
“We will not permit ourselves to not have hope,” mentioned Lee Siegel, the brother of Keith Siegel, an American who has been held in Gaza since he and his spouse, Aviva Siegel, have been kidnapped on Oct. 7.
Aviva Siegel was among the many greater than 100 hostages launched in a short lived cease-fire deal in November after 52 days in captivity. And Lee, 72, mentioned in a telephone interview on Tuesday that he believes a extra everlasting cease-fire deal “is the one method to return hostages alive.”
NBC Information takes a have a look at the hostages who stay in Hamas captivity.
What number of are nonetheless there?
Of the a minimum of 251 individuals who have been taken hostage, based on Israeli officers, a minimum of 154 have both been launched by Hamas, rescued by the Israel Protection Forces, recovered useless, or killed in encounters.
The vast majority of the launched hostages — a complete of 105 — have been freed throughout a quick non permanent cease-fire in November, in trade for lots of of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.
Not less than eight are recognized to have been rescued alive in IDF operations, together with one in June, when 26-year-old Noa Argamani, whose story grew to become extensively recognized after video of her seize went viral on social media, was rescued together with three others.
In December, three hostages — Alon Shamriz, Yotam Haim and Samer Talalka — have been shot and killed by Israeli soldiers, who mentioned they mistook them for combatants, although they have been holding a white flag. Different hostages have been discovered useless, together with the six who have been killed by Hamas final month. Israeli American Hersh Goldberg-Polin, 23, was amongst them.
The IDF on Sunday said three different Israeli hostages — Nik Beizer, 19, Ron Sherman, 19, and Elia Toledano, 28 — whose our bodies have been discovered final 12 months in underground tunnels in Gaza have been additionally more than likely killed in an Israeli army airstrike aimed toward a Hamas commander.
As of Monday, a minimum of 97 folks taken hostage on Oct. 7 are believed to nonetheless be in Gaza, with round a 3rd of them, or a minimum of 33 folks, believed to be useless, based on Israeli officers.
Hamas additionally holds two hostages, one taken in 2014 and the opposite in 2015, in addition to the our bodies of two slain Israeli troopers. Together with these 4 raises the tally to 101 folks, with 35 believed to be useless.
In the course of the Hamas-led assault on Oct. 7, some 1,200 folks, together with lots of of IDF troopers, have been killed, based on Israeli officers.
Greater than 41,300 folks have been killed in Gaza since Israel started its offensive 11 months in the past, based on native well being officers, with 1000’s of individuals believed to be buried underneath rubble, suggesting the dying toll could possibly be a lot greater.
Who’re the Individuals?
Not less than seven folks with American citizenship stay in Hamas captivity, and a minimum of three of them are believed to be useless, based on Israeli officers.
Keith Siegel, 65
Keith Siegel, 65, is amongst these believed to nonetheless be alive.
His brother Lee Siegel, 72, mentioned the final replace he acquired on his standing was a video launched by Hamas’ army wing, Al-Qassam Brigades, in April displaying Siegel and hostage Omri Miran. Within the video, Siegel and Miran spoke about not with the ability to rejoice Passover with their family members.
Siegel mentioned he wouldn’t “really feel reassured till Keith is on his manner residence.”
Sagui Dekel-Chen, 36
Sagui Dekel-Chen was taken hostage from Kibbutz Nir Oz.
Talking in a telephone interview on Tuesday, his father, Jonathan Dekel-Chen, mentioned he believed there “isn’t any different answer” to seeing his son and different hostages launched outdoors of a cease-fire deal.
And after the latest killing of the six hostages in Gaza, Hamas mentioned that hostage guards had been operating under new orders. Abu Ubaida, a spokesperson for Hamas’ Al-Qassam Brigades, didn’t specify what the brand new orders have been, however mentioned that utilizing army operations to free hostages, quite than a cease-fire deal, “means they are going to be returned to their households in shrouds.”
Edan Alexander, 20
Edan Alexander, 20, who grew up in New Jersey and had volunteered to serve with the Israeli army, was taken hostage from the Gaza Envelope on Oct. 7.
“I simply hope that they are going to deliver him residence and my soul will come again to me,” his mom, Yael Alexander, said last October.
Omer Neutra, 22
In an interview with NBC’s “TODAY” present earlier this month, the mother and father of hostage Omer Neutra, 22, mentioned information of 23-year-old Hersh Goldberg-Polin’s killing had come as a devastating blow.
Their son was virtually the identical age as Hersh, Neutra’s mom, Orna Neutra, mentioned, “to have this occur now, it shouldn’t have occurred.”
Individuals whose our bodies stay
Itay Chen, 19
Ruby and Hagit Chen had been outspoken for months in calling on Israel to do every part in its energy to see them reunited with their son, Itay Chen, 19, an IDF soldier taken hostage by Hamas on Oct. 7.
In March, the Israeli army instructed them that have been son was believed to have been killed on Oct. 7 and brought into Gaza. Since then, the Chens have been campaigning for his physique to be returned for a correct burial.
Judith Weinstein, 70, and Gadi Haggai, 73
Married couple Judith Weinstein and Gadi Haggai, each Americans, have been initially believed to have been taken hostage by Hamas, however their statuses have been unclear.
Late final 12 months, it was confirmed that each had doubtless been killed on Oct. 7, and their our bodies are actually being held in Gaza. President Joe Biden mentioned on the time, “no household ought to need to endure such an ordeal.”
