It’s been more than 15 months since Hamas attacked Israel and took hundreds of people hostage. However, the fate of many of those hostages remains unknown.
Israeli soldiers say they found the body of at least one hostage, a 53-year-old man. They are investigating whether remains found alongside him are of his son.
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More than 100 hostages remain in Gaza, and it’s unclear how many are still alive.
The Associated Press says Israel estimates anywhere between a third and half of the hostages are dead. And Newsmax cited an Israeli source who suggested the number of hostages, including civilians and female soldiers who are still alive, could be as low as 20.
While Israel and Hamas are discussing a potential ceasefire and the release of the remaining hostages, families of the hostages are urging the two sides to reach a deal as they face a second winter in captivity.
Israeli hostages held by Hamas face many of the same harsh realities as most of the two million people in Gaza. They include cold weather, food and electricity shortages, and the threat of bombings and airstrikes destroying the building or tunnel where they are held.
Both outgoing President Joe Biden and incoming President-elect Donald Trump are pushing Israel and Hamas to reach a deal. But that’s no guarantee, as previous rounds of talks collapsed even after both sides made extensive progress.
