By — Associated Press Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/a-look-at-the-hostages-left-in-gaza-by-the-numbers Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter A look at the hostages left in Gaza, by the numbers World Oct 15, 2025 2:05 PM EDT Israelis on Monday celebrated the return of the last 20 living hostages who were held in Gaza under the first phase of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire. Over the next two days, Hamas said it also released bodies of eight hostages. However, the Israeli military said Wednesday one of the bodies released was not that of a hostage. WATCH: Finding remains of hostages in Gaza will be ‘immense challenge,’ Mideast analyst says Palestinians rejoiced at Israel’s release of some 2,000 prisoners and detainees as part of the ceasefire’s first part. Hamas-led militants killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took 251 hostages in the Oct. 7, 2023 attack. The ensuing war has killed more than 67,600 Palestinians in Gaza, mostly women and children, Gaza’s Health Ministry said Saturday. The ministry doesn’t distinguish between civilians and combatants. The ministry, which is part of the Hamas-run government, maintains detailed casualty records that are seen as generally reliable by U.N. agencies and independent experts. READ MORE: As fragile Gaza ceasefire holds, Israelis lament incomplete return of dead hostages Here are details on the hostages. 251 Total hostages taken during Oct. 7 attack 4 Hostages taken before the Oct. 7 attack Two entered Gaza in 2014 and 2015, plus the bodies of two soldiers killed in the 2014 war. 160 Living hostages released in exchanges or other deals 15 Bodies of hostages released in deals 51 Bodies of hostages retrieved by Israeli forces 8 Hostages rescued alive 21 Bodies of hostages still in captivity 3 Non-Israeli whose bodies are still in Gaza They include two Thai nationals and one Tanzanian. A free press is a cornerstone of a healthy democracy. Support trusted journalism and civil dialogue. Donate now By — Associated Press Associated Press
Israelis on Monday celebrated the return of the last 20 living hostages who were held in Gaza under the first phase of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire. Over the next two days, Hamas said it also released bodies of eight hostages. However, the Israeli military said Wednesday one of the bodies released was not that of a hostage. WATCH: Finding remains of hostages in Gaza will be ‘immense challenge,’ Mideast analyst says Palestinians rejoiced at Israel’s release of some 2,000 prisoners and detainees as part of the ceasefire’s first part. Hamas-led militants killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took 251 hostages in the Oct. 7, 2023 attack. The ensuing war has killed more than 67,600 Palestinians in Gaza, mostly women and children, Gaza’s Health Ministry said Saturday. The ministry doesn’t distinguish between civilians and combatants. The ministry, which is part of the Hamas-run government, maintains detailed casualty records that are seen as generally reliable by U.N. agencies and independent experts. READ MORE: As fragile Gaza ceasefire holds, Israelis lament incomplete return of dead hostages Here are details on the hostages. 251 Total hostages taken during Oct. 7 attack 4 Hostages taken before the Oct. 7 attack Two entered Gaza in 2014 and 2015, plus the bodies of two soldiers killed in the 2014 war. 160 Living hostages released in exchanges or other deals 15 Bodies of hostages released in deals 51 Bodies of hostages retrieved by Israeli forces 8 Hostages rescued alive 21 Bodies of hostages still in captivity 3 Non-Israeli whose bodies are still in Gaza They include two Thai nationals and one Tanzanian. A free press is a cornerstone of a healthy democracy. Support trusted journalism and civil dialogue. Donate now