Tel Aviv: An Israeli official has confirmed that 24 hostages remain alive in Gaza, seeking to reassure families after former U.S. President Donald Trump stated a lower figure that caused widespread alarm.
Gal Hirsch, Israel’s coordinator for hostage affairs, clarified the official count on Wednesday via a post on X, formerly Twitter. According to Hirsch, the Palestinian militant group Hamas is currently holding 59 hostages in total—24 alive and 35 deceased. These figures, he emphasized, have remained unchanged since before Trump made his remarks.
“All families of the kidnapped are always updated with the information we have about their loved ones,” Hirsch stated.
Trump, speaking at a White House event on Tuesday, claimed that 24 hostages were alive a week earlier, but that the number had since dropped to 21.
“I say 21, because, as of today, it’s 21. Three have died,” Trump said, without offering any source or evidence to substantiate his claim.
The statement by Trump caused immediate concern among hostage families. The representative group for the families urged the Israeli government to share any new or updated information without delay.
“The headquarters again calls on the prime minister to stop the war until the return of the last abductee. This is the most urgent and important national task,” said a spokesperson for the group.
The hostage crisis stems from the Hamas-led attacks on October 7, 2023, in which approximately 1,200 people—mostly civilians—were killed in southern Israel, according to Israeli figures. In total, 251 people were taken hostage during the incursion.
In response, Israel launched a wide-scale military operation across Gaza. According to the Hamas-run health authorities, more than 52,000 Palestinians have been killed, including thousands of children. The assault has displaced the vast majority of Gaza’s population and left much of the enclave in ruins.
The status of the hostages remains a deeply emotional and politically charged issue within Israeli society. The prolonged conflict has led to growing frustration, with many citizens calling for a shift in priorities.
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Hostage families and advocacy groups continue to insist that securing the release of those abducted should be the government’s highest priority. Most of the hostages who have been returned to Israel were released during two ceasefires—one in late 2023 and the other in early 2025—under negotiated deals with Hamas.
However, with the most recent ceasefire collapsing in March, the families’ group is calling for an immediate halt to military operations and a renewed focus on diplomacy to bring home the remaining hostages.
Despite the pressure, the Israeli government maintains its dual objectives: to dismantle Hamas and to recover the hostages. This week, Israeli officials announced an expansion of military operations in Gaza, prompting strong objections from hostage families who fear such action could further endanger their loved ones.
