Trump announces the death of three Israeli hostages held in Gaza

President Donald Trump, on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, announced that three additional hostages held by Hamas in Gaza had died, reducing the number of confirmed living hostages to 21.

He shared this update during a swearing-in ceremony at the White House for his new Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff.

During his remarks, Trump stated that these three newly reported deaths mean only 21 of the hostages kidnapped during the October 7 attacks on Israel are still alive.

“Well, we’ve gone very slowly,” Trump said, referring to efforts to end the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.

He emphasized that the cautious approach was aimed at securing the release of as many hostages as possible.

“We want to try and get as many hostages saved as possible, and we’ve done a good job in that regard.”

He went on to reference a previous meeting with freed hostages, though he appeared to misstate the timing.

“Two weeks ago, I had 10 hostages come in, and they thanked me profusely,” he said.

In reality, the meeting took place two months ago and involved eight former hostages, not ten.

Trump then recounted a conversation he claimed to have had with the hostages regarding the number of people still in captivity.

“I said, ‘How many people are left?’ They said 59.

“I said, ‘Oh, wow, that’s more than I thought.’

They said, ‘Well, only 24 are living,’” he explained.

He then updated the figures, stating,

“But now it’s 21,” suggesting that three more hostages had died since that previous count.

“I say 21, because, as of today, it’s 21.

“Three have died,” he confirmed, although he did not specify the source of this information or provide any further details about the deceased hostages.

“This is a terrible situation,” Trump concluded, expressing the gravity of the hostage crisis.

According to the latest figures released by the Israeli military, out of the 251 individuals abducted during the Hamas-led assault on October 7, 58 are still believed to be in Gaza.

Of those, Israeli officials estimate that at least 34 are presumed dead.

Israel resumed its military operations in Gaza on March 18, ending a temporary two-month ceasefire.

The ceasefire had reportedly allowed for an increase in humanitarian aid to the region and the exchange of hostages for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.

During the truce, several hostages were released, but renewed fighting has since worsened conditions in the besieged territory.

The original attack by Hamas on October 7 was one of the deadliest in Israel’s history, resulting in the deaths of 1,218 people, most of whom were civilians.

This figure is based on an AFP tally derived from official Israeli sources.

Since Israel resumed its military campaign in mid-March, the Gaza health ministry reports that at least 2,507 more Palestinians have been killed.

This brings the total Palestinian death toll since the start of the war to 52,615, reflecting the staggering human cost of the conflict on both sides.

The situation remains tense, with ongoing military operations, worsening humanitarian conditions in Gaza, and unresolved hostage negotiations.

Trump’s comments highlight the continuing urgency around the fate of the remaining captives.

Although his figures slightly differ from official Israeli statistics and lacked accompanying evidence.

Nonetheless, the issue of hostages remains a focal point in both the political and humanitarian discourse surrounding the war.

Trump’s emphasis on the loss of additional lives among the captives underscores the grim reality of the conflict’s toll, particularly on innocent civilians caught in the middle.

As fighting continues and diplomatic efforts remain stalled, the safe return of the remaining hostages and the broader goal of peace appear increasingly difficult to achieve.

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