President Trump announced the tragic death of three more hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, bringing the total number of living captives down to only 21 amidst intensifying military preparations and diplomatic efforts. However, Israel states that 24 hostages are confirmed alive in Gaza, following Trump’s comments that caused distress among relatives.
Key Insights
- President Trump revealed that three additional hostages have died in Gaza, leaving only 21 believed to be alive out of 59 total captives
- Israel has approved “Operation Gideon’s Chariots,” a contingency plan to invade and occupy Gaza if diplomatic negotiations fail
- Special Envoy Steve Witkoff has been sworn in to negotiate a ceasefire and hostage release deal between Hamas and Israel
- Hamas has reportedly accepted a proposal to release one American-Israeli hostage and the remains of four others
- Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu supports intensified military action, believing it will help defeat Hamas and rescue the remaining hostages
President Trump Reveals Decrease in Living Hostages
During a White House swearing-in ceremony for Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, President Trump delivered the somber news that three more hostages held by Hamas in Gaza have died. This reduces the number of living captives from 24 to 21. Trump did not provide details about the identities of the deceased hostages or specify how he received this information. The announcement represents another grim development in the ongoing hostage crisis that began with Hamas’s attack in October 2023.
“They said only 24 are living and I now correct, I say 21 because as of today it’s 21. Three have died. So this is a terrible situation,” explained Trump during the ceremony, referring to information he received from previously freed hostages about the diminishing number of survivors in captivity.
Trump says only 21 hostages held by Hamas in Gaza now believed to be alive
https://t.co/KK6JktpN8y— WSFA 12 News (@wsfa12news) May 7, 2025
Diplomatic Efforts and Military Preparations Intensify
As the hostage situation grows increasingly dire, both diplomatic initiatives and military preparations have accelerated. The Israeli Security Cabinet has approved “Operation Gideon’s Chariots,” a comprehensive plan to invade and occupy the Gaza Strip if negotiations fail to produce results by the end of Trump’s Middle East visit. This operation would represent one of the largest military actions since the conflict began, with Israel reportedly mobilizing tens of thousands of reservists in preparation.
“We decided on intensified action in Gaza. That was the IDF chief of staff’s recommendation — to move, as he said, toward the defeat of Hamas. He believes this will also help us rescue the hostages. I agree with him,” Netanyahu stated, emphasizing his belief that military pressure will create leverage for hostage releases.
Meanwhile, newly appointed Special Envoy Steve Witkoff faces the challenging task of negotiating a ceasefire and hostage release agreement between Hamas and Israel. The complexity of these negotiations is heightened by Hamas’s recent acceptance of a proposal to release one living American-Israeli hostage, Idan Alexander, along with the remains of four others, though Israeli officials remain skeptical of Hamas’s intentions.
Conflicting Numbers and Ongoing Casualties
The exact number of hostages and their status has been a point of confusion and contention. While President Trump states that 21 hostages remain alive, with the total number of captives at 59 including the deceased, Israeli military reports differ slightly, indicating 58 hostages still held with 34 believed dead. This discrepancy highlights the challenging nature of obtaining accurate information in the conflict zone.
“Well, we’ve gone very slowly, because we want to try and get as many hostages saved as possible, and we’ve done a good job in that regard,” Trump noted, emphasizing the administration’s ongoing efforts to secure releases.
The conflict has resulted in devastating casualties on both sides. Since Israel resumed its offensive in Gaza on March 18, following the end of a two-month truce, at least 1,218 deaths have been reported on the Israeli side and approximately 2,507 deaths in Gaza. These numbers underscore the humanitarian crisis that continues to unfold as negotiations for hostage releases and a potential ceasefire proceed amidst the escalating tensions and military build-up.
Sources:
- Trump says only 21 hostages held by Hamas in Gaza now believed to be alive
- Trump says three Israeli hostages held in Gaza have died
- Trump: Three More Hostages Die in Gaza, Dropping Total To 21 Alive
