Where will the Israeli prisoners from the October 7 Hamas-led attack be taken? | Gaza News

EXPLAINER

Despite pressure to agree to a deal that includes the release of prisoners, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not backed down.

A year has passed since the Hamas-led attack on Israel, in which 1,139 people were killed and about 250 were captured and taken to the Gaza Strip.

Since October 7, 2023, Israel has killed more than 41,900 people in its genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.

Here’s what you should know about what happened to the prisoners kidnapped from Israel:

What happened on October 7th last year?

Palestinian armed groups led by Hamas’ armed wing attacked several areas in southern Israel.

Israeli officials said 251 people were captured, including women, men, children and the elderly.

Among them were 23 Thai nationals, one Nepalese national and one Filipino national who were working or studying in Israel.

Several of them had dual nationality. It is unclear how many of the prisoners have dual citizenship. However, at least 15 of those released came from Mexico, Germany, Argentina, Ireland, the United States and South Africa.

According to the US, 12 Americans were captured and seven are still in captivity.

The prisoners were believed to have been taken to various locations in the Gaza Strip by fighters from various Palestinian groups.

What happened to the prisoners?

Almost half of the prisoners were released. Others are still in captivity, some are confirmed or feared dead.

• Israeli officials said 117 had been returned to Israel.
• According to Israeli and US officials, 101 people are still in the Gaza Strip.
• According to the Israeli government, at least 33 bodies had been recovered by Israeli forces as of September 1.

Who did Hamas release?

• Some of the prisoners were unilaterally released by Hamas on “humanitarian grounds” between October 20 and 23.
• Those released include: Natalie, 17, and Judith Tai Raanan, 59, (released October 20) and Yochevid Lifshitz, 85, and Nurit Cooper, 79, (released October 23).
• As part of a prisoner exchange brokered by the Qatari government from November 24 to December 1, 105 prisoners were released 81 Israelis, 23 Thai workers and one person from the Philippines.

In return, Israel released approximately 240 Palestinians imprisoned in Israel, including many minors and many others who had not been convicted of a crime.

Within the first four days of the temporary ceasefire, Israel arrested more than 130 Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem.

Has Israel taken prisoners out of Gaza?

Eight people were rescued alive from Gaza by Israeli forces, often during heavy shelling that killed scores of Palestinians:

• On October 31, Israeli forces rescued a soldier, 18-year-old Ori Megidish, from the northern Gaza Strip.
• On February 12, two Argentine-Israeli men – Louis Har, 70, and Fernando Marman, 60 – were rescued in Rafah in a raid that reportedly killed 100 Palestinians.
• On June 8, Israeli soldiers killed more than 270 people and injured 700 in a raid to rescue four prisoners from Nuseirat refugee camp: Noa Argamani, 25; Andrey Kovlov, 27; Shlomi Ziv, 40; and Almog Meir, January 21st.
• A man, Kaid Farhan Elkadi, 52, was found by Israeli soldiers in the southern Gaza Strip on August 24.

Who is still trapped and alive?

According to Israeli military spokesman Daniel Hagari, there were probably around 101 prisoners still in the Gaza Strip as of September 1st.

They include more than 30 people who Israeli officials said were probably dead.

• On August 12, Abu Obeida, a spokesman for Hamas’s military wing, the Qassam Brigades, confirmed that Hamas guards had killed a male prisoner and seriously injured two female prisoners in separate incidents.
• On Monday, the Israeli group Hostages and Missing Families Forum said in a statement on X that officials had informed the family of Idan Shtivi, a 28-year-old male prisoner, of his death.

According to the Israeli Defense Forces, at least 33 bodies were recovered, including:

• Three prisoners killed by Israel on November 10 in an airstrike that Israel said targeted a tunnel where Hamas commander Ahmed Ghandour was operating. Officials initially denied that Israel was responsible for the killings, but admitted last month that it was “likely.”
• Three men who escaped from their captors were killed by Israeli forces in the Shujayea area of ​​the Gaza Strip on December 15. The soldiers opened fire even as the three men waved white flags and spoke to the soldiers in Hebrew.
• Six prisoners were found dead in a tunnel complex in Rafah on September 1. Hamas said they were killed by Israeli bombs. Israel said they were shot by Hamas members.

What’s next?

Despite pressure from the families of the remaining prisoners to accept a ceasefire proposed by Hamas that would see the release of all prisoners, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insists that Hamas must release the prisoners before a ceasefire can be negotiated.

Netanyahu came under more pressure from families as Israel expanded its war by attacking Lebanon last week.

Some accuse Netanyahu of not prioritizing prisoners, instead focusing on starting wars with Israel’s neighbors for political reasons.

A captive deal “is certainly off the table when it comes to this government,” Al Jazeera’s Stephanie Dekker said.

In recent months, weekly demonstrations have taken place in Israeli cities demanding the release of prisoners.

Hamas, meanwhile, has insisted it will not release the prisoners unless Israel agrees to and implements a full ceasefire in Gaza.