A deal between Israel and Hamas, mediated by Qatar, paused the fighting from Nov. 24 to Friday, and allowed for the release of women and children in exchange for Palestinian women and teens in Israeli prisons. However, fighting restarted on Friday, with Israeli warplanes resuming strikes in Gaza.
During the pause, 81 Israeli citizens — including those who also hold citizenship from other countries — were released. Under the deal’s framework, every Israeli hostage freed would initiate the release of three Palestinian prisoners. Outside the framework of the exchange deal, 24 foreign nationals — who do not hold Israeli citizenship — were freed. Before the deal, some hostages — including two Americans — were also released or rescued.
The specific number of hostages who have died in captivity, and the ages, gender and nationalities of those thought to remain in Gaza, are unclear. Israel has estimated that the majority of those remaining have Israeli citizenship and are men. It’s unclear how many are members of the Israeli military.
Two Americans — Abigail Edan, 4, and Liat Beinin Atzili, 49 — have been released under the exchange deal. Fewer than 10 U.S. citizens are now held hostage, according to the White House. At the time of Beinin’s release on Wednesday, her husband, Aviv Atzili, 49, was thought to be in Gaza as a hostage of Hamas, according to the White House. But Israeli authorities told Beinin’s father on Thursday that Atzili was killed on Oct. 7, based on a forensic DNA analysis of remains.
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 said it discovered the bodies of at least two hostages it claimed were killed in captivity. Hamas says Israeli strikes have killed some hostages. The Washington Post could not independently verify either side’s claim.
Here is a list of the hostages released and what is known about those who remain.
Number of hostages estimated remaining in Gaza: 137
More than 240 people are thought to have been abducted Oct. 7.
Israeli government spokesman Eylon Levy said Thursday that 145 hostages are still being held in Gaza, and the subsequent release of eight hostages would bring that number to 137.
The majority of the hostages are men, Levy said. Israel said there are 10 hostages who are more than 75 years old, including husbands of elderly women who have been released.
Fewer than 10 Americans remain in captivity in Gaza, according to John Kirby, spokesman for the White House National Security Council.
Names of Israeli and dual-national hostages released since 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 Jirbi, 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 minister, Al Ansari.
- 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 Jerbi, 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 since 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
Names of hostages who were released or freed before the deal
Before the pause in fighting, Hamas released four hostages in two batches in October. Americans Judith Raanan, 59, and her daughter Natalie, 17, were released Oct. 20. Hamas said this was 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 remain in captivity.
Israel said one of its soldiers who was taken in the Hamas incursion was released after a rescue operation in late October. The soldier was identified as Pvt. Ori Megidish.
Hostages confirmed dead in Gaza: At least 2
It is unclear how many of the remaining hostages are still alive.
Israel has said it discovered the bodies of two hostages — 19-year-old Cpl. Noa Marciano and Yehudit Weiss, a 65-year-old who had been taken hostage from Kibbutz Beeri — who were “murdered in captivity.” After Hamas said Marciano was killed by an Israeli strike, the Israel Defense Forces 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. Hamas militants have said that some hostages have been killed in Israeli airstrikes, but they have not produced evidence that corroborates their claims.
Lior Soroka, Shira Rubin and Kate Brady contributed to this report.
