Israel has actually fixed remarks made by United States president Donald Trump after he informed press reporters recently that 21 captives live in Gaza– instead of 24– since 3 had actually passed away.
The claim triggered alarm among the households of captives, who had actually not been provided this upgrade by the Israeli federal government. However an authorities stated on Wednesday that 24 captives do still live in Gaza, with figures staying the same because before Trump spoke.
Gal Hirsch, Israel’s planner for captive concerns, stated in a post on X that the Palestinian militant group Hamas was holding 59 captives of whom 24 lived and 35 dead.
“All households of the abducted are constantly upgraded with the info we have actually about their enjoyed ones,” he stated.
Speaking at an occasion at the White Home on Tuesday, Trump stated that 24 captives lived a week ago however the figure was now 21.
“I state 21, because, since today, it’s 21. 3 have actually passed away,” he stated, without mentioning a source or offering more information.
Trump’s remark had actually triggered the group representing the households of captives to ask the Israeli federal government to share any brand-new info with them instantly.
“The head office once again contacts the prime minister to stop the war up until the return of the last abductee. This is the most immediate and crucial nationwide job,” stated a representative for the group.
An overall of 251 individuals were hijacked throughout the Hamas attacks on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, in which some 1,200 individuals, mainly civilians, were eliminated, according to Israeli tallies.
Israel has actually reacted with an air and ground attack on Gaza that has actually eliminated more than 52,000 Palestinians, consisting of countless kids, according to the Hamas-run health authorities there. The Israeli offensive has actually displaced the majority of the population and minimized much of the enclave to ruins.
The fate of the captives is a visceral concern for many Israelis and one that has actually triggered increasing disquiet and department in Israeli society as the war has actually dragged out.
Captive households and their advocates have actually stated from the start that releasing all those abducted on October 7 ought to be the outright concern.
The majority of the captives returned conscious Israel up until now were launched as part of handle Hamas throughout 2 short-term ceasefires in late 2023 and early 2025.
The most current ceasefire broke down in March, and the households’ group argues that Israel needs to stop the battling and work out the release of the staying captives.
The federal government states its 2 war objectives are to damage Hamas and launch the captives. Today it has actually revealed a growth of its offensive on Gaza, triggering consternation amongst the captive households who state this will even more threaten their enjoyed ones.