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On 7 October 2023, as part of the Hamas-led attack on Israel at the beginning of the Israel–Hamas war, Hamas and other Palestinian militant groups abducted 253 people from Israel to the Gaza Strip, including children, women, and elderly people. In addition to hostages with only Israeli citizenship, almost half of the hostages are foreign nationals or have multiple citizenships. Some hostages were Negev Bedouins. The precise ratio of soldiers and civilians among the captives is unknown. The captives are likely being held in different locations in the Gaza Strip. As of 14 February 2024, 112 hostages had been returned alive to Israel, with 105 being released in a prisoner exchange deal, four released by Hamas unilaterally and three rescued by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). Twelve bodies of hostages were repatriated to Israel, with three of the hostages killed by friendly fire from the IDF and the bodies of nine hostages repatriated through military operations. 33 hostages were reportedly killed in Hamas captivity according to Israel. According to unconfirmed Israeli intelligence, at least 20 additional hostages may be deceased, with their bodies being held captive in Gaza. As of 6 April 2024, 133 hostages remained in captivity in the Gaza Strip, 129 of whom had been abducted on 7 October 2023; the other four hostages having been captured earlier. Hamas has offered to release all hostages in exchange for Israel releasing all Palestinian prisoners. By October 2023, Israel held 5,200 Palestinians (including 170 juveniles) in its prisons. Hamas stated its objective was to secure their release. Several countries have been involved in negotiations between Israel and Hamas, with Qatar taking the lead. On 22 November 2023, Israel and Hamas agreed to the release of 150 Palestinian prisoners and a four-day cease-fire in exchange for Hamas's release of approximately 50 of the hostages. The exchange involved hostages from the categories of women and children. As of 30 November 2023, the last day of the ceasefire, 105 civilian hostages had been released, which included 81 people from Israel, 23 Thais and one Filipino. On 12 February 2024, two Argentinian-Israeli civilians were rescued in Operation Golden Hand. As of April 2024, according to Israeli information, Hamas holds 97 hostages alive and 36 bodies. Background The issue of hostages and prisoners is considered emotional for both Israelis and Palestinians. Since 1967, between 750,000 and 1 million Palestinians have been arrested by Israel. As of October 2023, Israel held over 5,200 Palestinian prisoners, including at least 170 children. (By November 2023, the number of Palestinian prisoners, including suspected militants and Gazans had increased to 10,000.) Some have been convicted of terrorism by Israeli authorities; the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories describes many convictions as resulting from "a litany of violations of international law, including due process violations, that taint the legitimacy of the administration of justice by the occupying power." About 1,310 Palestinians are held in administrative detention, a practice that allows Israel to detain Palestinians indefinitely without charges or trial. Israel justifies this practice citing security reasons. Hostages have been used as bargaining chips for prisoner exchanges, which is a violation of international law. Hostage-taking and the abduction of civilians are prohibited by international law and are war crimes. Israel had mostly refrained from negotiating with organizations it deemed as terrorists, opting for military or alternative measures to secure the release of hostages. However, Israel has engaged in prisoner exchanges with armed groups on several occasions. Notable incidents include the 1994 kidnapping of Israeli soldier Nachshon Wachsman, resulting in his death during a failed rescue attempt by IDF forces. Hamas actions were at times aimed at disrupting the peace process in the 1990s. In 2006, Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit was captured and held for over five years until a prisoner exchange in 2011. Israel secured his release in exchange for 1,000 Palestinians from Israeli custody, some of whom were trialed as terrorists. However, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories describes many convictions as resulting from "a litany of violations of international law, including due process violations, that taint the legitimacy of the administration of justice by the occupying power." About 1,310 Palestinians are held in Administrative detention, a practice that allows Israel to detain Palestinians indefinitely without charges or trial. Israel justifies this practice citing security reasons. The 2014 kidnapping and murder of three Israeli teenagers, Eyal Yifrach, Naftali Fraenkel, and Gilad Shaar, heightened tensions and contributed to opening of Operation Protective Edge in 2014. Hamas has also held the bodies of two slain Israeli soldiers, Hadar Goldin and Oron Shaul, since the 2014 Operation Protective Edge. Additionally, at the time of its attack, Hamas was already holding two Israelis hostage: Ethiopian Israeli Avera Mengistu (since 2014) and Bedouin Israeli Hisham al-Sayed (since 2015). Hamas has also sought to ransom the remains of Israeli soldiers Oron Shaul and Hadar Goldin, which they seized during the 2014 Gaza War. On 31 August 2023, Israel warned its citizens that Hamas was trying to kidnap them. On 7 October 2023, Hamas attacked Israel, initiating the 2023 Hamas-Israel war. The attack resulted in over 1,200 Israeli casualties and the occupation of towns, cities, and military bases by Hamas militants leading to widespread condemnation and accusations of war crimes. The use of hostages, primarily women, children, and the elderly, is highlighted as a violation by Hamas of international humanitarian law. 7 October attacks On the morning of 7 October 2023, around 6:30 a.m. IST, Palestinian militants led by Hamas launched an attack into Israel from multiple sites on its border with the Gaza Strip. The attack included ground and motorized infiltration into Israeli territory, attacks on Israel Defense Forces (IDF) bases and exchanges of fire with security forces, massacres and shooting of Israeli civilians, and takeovers of communities and military facilities. The ground incursion was combined with and backed by a sustained barrage of thousands of rockets. At around 7:00 am, militants raided many communities and kibbutzim (intentional communities) in the Gaza periphery area of Israel. They killed civilians and soldiers across many communities resulting in 1,200 deaths. The Economist described the combined attacks as "the biggest terror attack in [Israel's] history". In the initial wave of attacks, militants kidnapped civilians and brought them back to Gaza as captives. According to statements by Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, around 200 soldiers and civilians were c.... Discover the Rachel Heller Amir Levine popular books. Find the top 100 most popular Rachel Heller Amir Levine books.