Families of three more hostages confirmed on Wednesday that they had received signs of life from their loved ones, raising the total to 10 captives for whom recent indications of survival have been reported.
The signs of life have primarily come through information from recently released hostages. According to Channel 12 news, two additional captives have also been confirmed alive, though their families have chosen not to publicize the information.
Among the confirmed hostages, only one is included in the list of 33 captives set for release in the first phase of the ongoing ceasefire-hostage deal.
Since the deal took effect on January 19, Hamas has released 16 Israeli hostages. The terror group continues to hold 73 of the 251 hostages abducted on October 7, 2023, with approximately 30 believed to be alive.
Anat Angrest, mother of 21-year-old captive soldier Matan Angrest, confirmed that her son is alive but held under “harsh conditions.” Angrest was taken from his IDF tank unit at Nahal Oz during the October 7 attacks.
“We received information that he is alive,” Anat told Channel 12, adding that he was abducted with burns and subjected to severe interrogations.
Yosef-Haim Ohana, 24, was also confirmed alive by his family, though concerns remain over his health. Ohana was kidnapped from the Nova music festival while attempting to assist injured partygoers.
“We have a clear indication that he is alive,” said his aunt, Hana Mastronov, to Ynet.
The family of Eitan Mor, a 23-year-old security guard also taken from the Nova festival, confirmed Wednesday that they had received a sign of life. His parents, once opposed to a hostage deal, have softened their stance after witnessing the dire condition of three hostages released over the weekend.
Other hostages whose families recently received updates include twins Gali and Ziv Berman (27), Omri Miran (46), Alon Ohel (24), Nimrod Cohen (20), Eliya Cohen (27), and Elkana Bohbot (34).
Accounts from recently freed captives paint a grim picture of the conditions faced by hostages. Alon Ohel’s mother revealed that her son is chained, starved, and suffering from untreated wounds, including shrapnel damage and a partially blinded eye.
Eliya Cohen’s mother, Sigi Cohen, described horrifying abuse, stating that hostages were gagged, burned, and hung by their feet.
Hamas has so far released 21 hostages—including civilians, female soldiers, and Thai nationals—under the ceasefire deal. An additional 105 hostages were freed during a previous truce in November 2023.
Meanwhile, the IDF continues its efforts to locate and recover hostages. To date, eight hostages have been rescued alive, while 40 bodies have been retrieved, including three mistakenly killed by Israeli troops while trying to escape captivity.
Hamas still holds two Israeli civilians captured in 2014 and 2015, as well as the body of an IDF soldier killed in 2014.
Signs of life received for 10 hostages held in Gaza
