Netanyahu Confirms Only 21 Hostages Known to Be Alive Amid Rising Tensions Over Transparency

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed Tuesday evening that Israel knows for certain that 21 hostages held by Hamas are alive, while the fate of three others remains in serious doubt. His statement followed mounting pressure on the government after U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli media outlets suggested the actual number of living captives may be lower than previously stated.

“We know for sure that 21 are alive,” Netanyahu said in a video message. “There are three more about whom there is serious doubt whether they are alive.”

Discrepancy in Hostage Count Sparks Public Outcry

The Prime Minister’s remarks come after Trump publicly claimed the number of living hostages had decreased, triggering confusion and concern among families of the captives. Israeli sources earlier told Haneef News that “there is serious concern” for the lives of three of the 24 hostages previously classified as alive.

On the evening broadcast of Haneef 11, it was reported that liaison officers informed families today that the number of living hostages may indeed be fewer than 24, confirming their growing fears following Trump’s comments.

In response, the families issued a sharp statement:

“We demand once again from the Israeli government — if there is new information that has been hidden from us, pass it on to us immediately.”

Official Clarification Claims 24 Hostages Still Alive

Earlier in the day, the Israeli government’s Prisoners and Missing Persons Task Force, led by Gal Hirsch, issued a clarification insisting that the number of living hostages remains officially at 24.

“Hamas is currently holding 59 hostages. 24 are classified as living, while 35 have been declared kidnapped and killed. All families are continuously updated with available information about their loved ones,” the statement said.

Yet for many families, that reassurance fell flat.

Alon Nimrodi, father of kidnapped soldier Tamir Nimrodi is tormented by a lack of transparency:

“It’s a nightmare. We know information is being withheld. It’s horrific to think the U.S. President is more informed than we are.”

He added that recent comments by Sarah Netanyahu and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich only deepened his concerns, saying they reflect a disturbing disregard for the families’ right to know the truth.

Hostage Issue Downgraded in Military Plans

Amid these emotional appeals, new controversy has emerged surrounding the IDF’s upcoming ground operation in Gaza, codenamed “Gideon’s Chariots.”

Although Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir had publicly assured the families and the public that rescuing the hostages is a top priority, internal military documents show otherwise. The official operation order, approved Tuesday and presented to commanders at the Southern Command, lists the goal of “returning the hostages” only sixth in priority.

The top five objectives listed are:

1. Defeating Hamas

2. Operational control over the area

3. Demilitarizing the Gaza Strip

4. Targeting Hamas government infrastructure

5. Population concentration and mobilization

Notably, the language in the document was also changed — the word “abductees” was replaced with “hostages,” a shift that reportedly surprised some of the senior commanders involved.

Hamas Yet to Respond to Ceasefire Proposal

Meanwhile, Israel is still awaiting a formal response from Hamas to a revised hostage deal proposal, delivered through international mediators. The current plan would include the release of a partial number of hostages in exchange for a temporary ceasefire, during which negotiations on a permanent truce would begin — with the United States acting as guarantor.

President Trump, who has repeatedly referenced the hostage issue in recent statements, said Tuesday evening:

“There is a lot of talk around Gaza right now. We will know something in the next 24 hours.”