A look at the hostages taken to Gaza by Hamas, by the numbers
- Total Hostages Taken: 251 people, including children, women, and elderly individuals, were abducted from Israel to the Gaza Strip on October 7, 2023 ¹.
- Foreign Nationals: Almost half of the hostages are foreign nationals or have multiple citizenships, including citizens from France, Germany, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
- Hostages Released: As of February 8, 2025, 138 hostages have been returned alive to Israel, with 105 released in a 2023 prisoner exchange deal, four released by Hamas unilaterally, eight rescued by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), and 21 released in a 2025 prisoner exchange deal.
- Hostages Killed:74 hostages were reportedly killed on October 7 or in Hamas captivity, according to Israel, while 39 bodies of hostages were repatriated to Israel.
- Remaining Hostages: 76 hostages remained in captivity in the Gaza Strip as of February 8, 2025, with at least 34 of them believed to be dead based on intelligence.
- Prisoner Exchange: In exchange for the release of hostages, Israel has freed Palestinian prisoners, including 183 prisoners released on February 8, 2025 ².