Daijiworld Media Network- Tel Aviv

Tel Aviv, May 7: Israeli authorities on Wednesday reaffirmed that 24 hostages are still alive in Gaza, countering a statement by former U.S. President Donald Trump, who claimed only 21 were still alive, sparking panic among families.

Gal Hirsch, Israel’s coordinator for hostage affairs, clarified on X (formerly Twitter) that Hamas is holding 59 hostages—24 alive and 35 confirmed dead—figures that remain unchanged. This response came after Trump, during a White House event on Tuesday, said three more had died, bringing the live count down to 21.

Trump did not cite a source for his claim, leading to immediate distress among families of the abductees. The Families Forum, which represents the hostages’ kin, issued a stern appeal to the Israeli government, urging it to share any new developments transparently.

“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,” a forum spokesperson said.

The hostage crisis stems from October 7, 2023, when Hamas militants attacked southern Israel, killing about 1,200 people and abducting 251 others, as per Israeli data. In retaliation, Israel launched a devastating air and ground assault on Gaza, with Hamas-run health authorities reporting over 52,000 Palestinian casualties, including thousands of children.

While some hostages were freed in temporary ceasefire deals in late 2023 and early 2025, talks collapsed in March, and Israel has since intensified its offensive. The government maintains that its twin goals are to dismantle Hamas and rescue hostages, but hostage families warn that escalating attacks put their loved ones at greater risk.

Public pressure is mounting as Israelis grow increasingly divided between continuing the war effort and halting operations to secure the release of the remaining captives.