Contradicting claims by President Trump, Israel reportedly estimates that 20 of the 50 hostages held in Gaza are still alive, though one or two are likely in life-threatening condition.
By World Israel News Staff
At least one and possibly two of the 50 hostages held in the Gaza Strip are believed to be in mortal danger, Israel estimates, according to senior Israeli officials.
One official, who spoke with Israel’s Channel 12 on condition of anonymity, pushed back on claims made by President Donald Trump last week suggesting that several additional hostages have died in captivity in Gaza.
Currently, there are 50 hostages remaining in Gaza, of whom 20 are estimated by Israeli intelligence to still be alive.
Speaking with reporters in the Oval Office last Friday, Trump said that while officially the number of living hostages is still 20, “the 20 is actually probably not 20 because a couple of them are not around any longer.”
Israel responded to Trump’s claim by reiterating that there is no change in the estimate of how many hostages are still alive.
In an interview with Channel 12 published Saturday night, one unnamed senior Israeli official said that “Releasing the hostages is an urgent need,” given the deteriorating condition of some of the captives.
However, multiple Israeli officials told the report that they were baffled as to the source for Trump’s claim that additional hostages have died in captivity.
They did say that “at least one or two” of the captives are in mortal danger, confirming a statement by Israel’s hostages czar, Gal Hirsch.
“According to the information we have, there is no change in the number of living hostages,” Hirsch told hostage families after Trump’s comments last Friday.
“Twenty of the hostages are alive, and two are in grave danger for their lives, 28 are no longer alive and have been declared deceased.”
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