Doubts surround fate of 3 hostages held in Gaza: Israeli media

JERUSALEM / ISTANBUL

Israeli media cast doubts on Thursday about the fate of three hostages held in the Gaza Strip, including one Israeli and two foreigners.

Israeli Channel 12, citing an unnamed security source, said Hamas currently holds 59 hostages, with 35 officially confirmed dead, including 32 Israelis and three foreigners.

However, doubts grew after US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that 21 hostages out of those held in Gaza remain alive.

The unnamed source said that three hostages are in “grave danger,” including one Israeli and two foreigners.

He added that 21 hostages are confirmed alive in Gaza, while the status of the three at risk remains uncertain.

Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth identified the two foreign hostages as Natpong Pinta, 35, from Thailand, and Bipin Joshi, 24, from Nepal, noting they are the only remaining foreign captives whose fates are unknown.

Hostage families are pressing the Israeli government to negotiate a swap deal with Hamas, holding Tel Aviv accountable for the captives’ safety due to its refusal to reach an agreement.

Hamas repeatedly said that it is ready for a deal to release all hostages in exchange for a ceasefire, a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, and the release of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails – terms the Israeli government rejects.

Throughout the war, Hamas said that Israeli airstrikes targeted sites where hostages were held, resulting in the deaths and injuries of dozens.

The Israeli army has launched a brutal military onslaught on Gaza, killing nearly 52,800 people, mostly women and children, since Oct. 7, 2023.

The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants last November for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.