As few as 50 captives still alive in Gaza, US officials estimate
There may only be 50 captives still alive in Gaza, according to a US official and mediators in captive-release talks cited by The Wall Street Journal.
That estimate, which the WSJ said relies partly on Israeli intelligence, implies that as many as 66 captives unaccounted for in Gaza could be dead, a higher toll than Israel has publicly stated.
Hamas took about 250 captives on October 7 and has since released 109 of them, mostly in exchange deals. Seven more captives have been rescued by Israel’s military.
In December, Israeli forces admitted killing three captives despite them being shirtless and one of them holding up a white flag.
Mother of Israeli captive tells Netanyahu: ‘You chose political survival over your people’
Israeli antigovernment protesters, including relatives of captives, have blocked Highway 2, according to the Ynet news site.
Earlier, we reported that protesters had blocked the Ayalon Highway in Tel Aviv.
Einav Tsengawkar, whose son Matan remains captive in Gaza, joined the protests and gave a strong rebuke of Netanyahu, who she said prioritises political survival over the fate of Israeli captives and soldiers.
“I will not let you bury Matan and the other hostages in the name of your political survival,” said Tsengawkar, according to Ynet. “We, the people, will win and return the abductees and security to the country.”
