As Israel recovers the bodies of three more hostages, how many are still in Gaza?
Israel said Sunday that it has recovered the bodies of three more hostages taken in Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack that ignited the ongoing 20-month war in the Gaza Strip.
The Israeli military identified them as Yonatan Samerano, 21; Ofra Keidar, 70; and Shay Levinson, 19. All three were killed during the initial attack and their bodies were taken into Gaza. Kobi Samerano said in a Facebook post that his son’s remains were returned on what would have been Yonatan’s 23rd birthday.
The military did not provide details about the operation. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel is committed to returning the remaining hostages even as it wages a new military campaign against Iran.
Hamas-led militants killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took 251 hostages in the Oct. 7 attack. More than 55,000 Palestinians in Gaza, mostly women and children, have been killed in the ensuing conflict, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. The ministry doesn’t distinguish between civilians and combatants.
Here are details on the hostages:
Total hostages captured on Oct. 7, 2023: 251
Hostages taken before the Oct. 7 attack: 4, including 2 who entered Gaza in 2014 and 2015 and the bodies of 2 soldiers killed in the 2014 war
Hostages released in exchanges or other deals: 148, of whom 8 were dead
Bodies of hostages retrieved by Israeli forces: 49
Hostages rescued alive: 8
Hostages still in captivity: 50, of whom Israel believes 27 are dead. Netanyahu has said there are “doubts” about the fate of several more.
The hostages in captivity include four non-Israelis: 2 Thais and 1 Tanzanian who have been confirmed dead, and a Nepalese captive.
Shutdown has already delayed the jobs report. More critical reports could be held up
The government's monthly jobs report was not published Friday as a result of the federal shutdown. That's left businesses and policymakers in the dark about the strength of the U.S. job market.
Supreme Court to hear challenge to Hawaii’s limits on guns
At issue is the state law that bans guns on private property that is open to the public — places like clubs, bars and restaurants — unless the property's owners have allowed them.
The Trump-Epstein statue is back on the National Mall, days after its abrupt removal
The statue honors Trump's "long-lasting bond" with Epstein, which the president denies. The National Park Service took down the statue after one day last week, saying it didn't comply with its permit.
GOP blames government shutdown on health care for undocumented people. That’s false
The White House and GOP lawmakers say a provision in the Big Beautiful Bill that Democrats want rolled back keeps undocumented people from getting health benefits — a claim experts say is misleading.
Take a look! ‘Reading Rainbow’ is back
Mychal Threets, a social media star librarian, is hosting the new iteration of the series. It's back for four episodes starting on Saturday.
Trump gives Hamas a ‘last chance’ deadline to agree to a peace plan with Israel
President Trump said that if Hamas does not agree to the 20-point plan, as presented by Israel and the U.S., then "all HELL, like no one has ever seen before, will break out against Hamas."