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In a press conference on Tuesday, US President Donald Trump reported that the number of living hostages still held in Gaza has dropped to 21, following the death of three individuals in captivity.
Trump said, “They said that only 24 are living, and I now correct…I say 21 because as of today, it’s 21. Three have died. So this, this is a terrible situation.”
Trump did not provide further details on the identities of the deceased hostages. His statement came after a meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, where Trump also reiterated his efforts to secure the release of the remaining hostages.
“We’re trying to get the hostages out. We’ve gotten a lot of them out. As the expression goes, ‘there’s 21 plus a lot of dead bodies,'” Trump added.
However, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, which coordinates with the families of those held in Gaza, quickly responded to Trump’s claims, disputing his assertion that only 21 hostages are alive.
In a statement posted on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), the forum’s coordinator, Gal Hirsch, contradicted the president’s figures, stating that there are currently 59 hostages in Gaza, with 24 still alive and 35 confirmed deceased.
“Currently, 59 hostages are being held by the terrorist organization Hamas. Twenty-four of them are on the list of living hostages. Thirty-five of them are on the list of deceased hostages, with their deaths officially determined. Fifty-four of the hostages are Israeli citizens, and five are foreign nationals,” Hirsch wrote.
The forum also emphasized its ongoing communication with the families of the hostages, ensuring they are kept informed with the most up-to-date information available.
“All the families of the hostages are always updated with the information we have regarding their loved ones,” the statement added.
In response to Trump’s comments, the Hostages Families Forum issued a statement demanding transparency from the Israeli government.
“Once again, we demand that the Israeli government—if there is new information that has been withheld from us—share it with us immediately,” the forum declared.
The discrepancy between Trump’s remarks and the Hostages Families Forum’s statement is the latest in a series of conflicting accounts regarding the status of the hostages.
Earlier this year, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made similar remarks about the number of living hostages, initially claiming that 24 were alive before his wife, Sara, whispered “fewer” in his ear during a public appearance.
In early May, Trump had also suggested that the number of living hostages might be lower than the 24 previously reported. “Out of 59 hostages, 24 are alive – but my understanding now is that that number is even smaller,” he had said.
As the Israel-Hamas conflict continues, the fate of the hostages remains uncertain, and the families of those held are seeking clarity and accountability from both the Israeli and US governments.
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum’s call for further transparency underscores the emotional and political complexities surrounding the issue.