Eight Israeli hostages set to be released by Hamas already dead
Hamas frees four Israeli hostages in exchange for 200 Palestinians
GB News
At least eight hostages that were due to be freed in the first phase of the Gaza deal are dead, Israel has said.
Hamas gave Israel a list overnight that provided information on the status of the 26 hostages left to be freed, Israeli spokesman David Mencer said.
It is believed to be the first time that the militant group has said exactly how many hostages are dead or alive.
Mencer told reporters: “The list from Hamas matches Israel's intelligence, so I can share with you that... eight have been killed by Hamas.
Hamas gave Israel a list overnight which provided information on the status of the 26 hostages left to be freed
Getty
“The families have been informed of the situation of their relatives.”
Thirty-three hostages are set to be released during phase one of the deal. Since the truce began on January 19, seven female captives have been set free.
In exchange, over 290 Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails have also been released.
Israel has said the next release of hostages will take place on Thursday, followed by another on Saturday.
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Thirty-three hostages are set to be released during phase one of the deal
PALawyers representing British and British-linked hostage families have said the latest update shows that the safety of the captives is “extremely precarious”.
A statement read: “This is a huge blow to relatives of hostage families. They have not been told with any certainty whether their relative is alive or not.
“Hamas has refused to provide this basic information, as it has refused for over 15 months - adding to the terrible suffering the families have experienced.
“This development also shows that the safety of the hostages, our clients’ family members, is extremely precarious.”
Emily Damari was the sole British hostage
GettyThere are around 90 hostages still being held by Hamas, and Israel believes up to a half of them have died - either killed in the initial attack or in captivity.
British-Israeli woman Emily Damari was released by Hamas as part of the first set of three hostages freed after the ceasefire deal was agreed.
She was set free alongside 24-year-old Romi Goren and 31-year-old Doron Steinbrecher.
The three women were abducted during Hamas’s horrific October 7 attack in 2023.
The attack, which left 1,200 Israelis killed, saw the Palestinian terror group snatch around 250 people before taking them into captivity in Gaza.
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