three months after the start of the conflict, what is the situation of the hostages in the Gaza Strip?

As the conflict enters its fourth month on Sunday, 136 Israelis are still detained in the Gaza Strip, according to the army.

Saturday October 7, 2023 – Sunday January 7, 2024. The war between Israel and Hamas is entering its fourth month on Sunday. In a speech on Saturday evening, the Israeli Prime Minister vowed to continue the clashes until the “complete victory”. Benjamin Netanyahu repeated his three objectives: “eliminate Hamas”, “ensure that Gaza is no longer a threat to Israel” And “recover the hostages”.

But the more time passes, the more the relatives of those still in captivity seem to lose hope of finding them. Franceinfo takes stock.

How many people are still being held hostage?

Hamas kidnapped some 250 people during its attack on Israeli soil on October 7. Three months later, the number of hostages remaining in the Gaza Strip varies depending on the sources. The spokesperson for the Israeli army believes that “136 Israelis still detained in the Gaza Strip”. Among them are three civilians “who were initially reported missing, but later turned up among the hostages held in Gaza”, said Daniel Hagari during a press conference on Friday.

Some Israeli media report 123 hostages, or even 129. Haaretzwhich keeps its own count, puts forward the figure of 131 people “officially confirmed as hostages, still held by Hamas.” But proof of the vagueness surrounding this figure, the Israeli newspaper has set up an e-mail address so that its readers can make possible corrections or clarifications.

Little information is available on the state of health, location or conditions of detention of people still in captivity. The Israeli authorities also estimate that at least 23 hostages have been declared dead.

Are French people still among the hostages?

Yes, three French people are still considered hostages or missing. Orion Hernandez-Radoux, Franco-Mexican from 30 years, was kidnapped during the Tribe of Nova music festival. Ofer Kalderon, 53, and Ohad Yahalomi, 49, are also still presumed hostages. The two fathers were in the Nir Oz kibbutz, near Gaza, at the time of the attack. The children of the first (Erez Kalderon, 12 years old, and Sahar Kalderon, 16 years old) and the son of the second (Eitan Yahalomi, 12 years old) were all released by Hamas on November 27, as part of the truce concluded between the two parties. For his part, the Bangkok Post estimates that eight Thais are still hostages.

Where are the negotiations?

During the seven-day truce at the end of November, 105 hostages were released by Hamas, including 80 Israelis, 23 Thai nationals and one Filipino. From, the diplomatic negotiations necessary for new exchanges seem to be at a standstill. Hamas refuses to continue discussions without a prior ceasefire. At the end of December 2023, the terrorist group presented Israel with a new proposed agreement which this time included withdrawal from Gaza, explains Axios.

On Tuesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told relatives of the hostages that negotiations for their return were underway. But the families, who meet every Saturday in Tel Aviv, are losing patience. “With time, I begin to understand that people will forget, that they will not get my brother out of this hell, declared to Haaretz her twin sister Romi Cohen, also 19 years old. I beg you. Don’t leave us alone. Hurry up.”

Are there any hopes of liberation?

Relatives of at least six hostages traveled to Doha on Saturday with the aim of relaunching talks. These families met theQatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abderrahmane Al-Thani. But he himself recognized it was “more difficult to talk to Hamas after what happened in Beirut”, reports Axios, citing a Qatari official. An allusion to the assassination on Tuesday of Hamas deputy leader Saleh al-Arouri and several other senior members of the terrorist group.

In Qatar, relatives also met Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al-Khulaifi, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs. He is the one who heads the negotiating team with Hamas and Israel. “Qatar is sincerely aware of the suffering of the hostages and their loved onesthe Qatari official told Axios. We use all possible channels and work closely with our American and Israeli counterparts… but Qatar is a mediator. He doesn’t control Hamas.” Before adding: it becomes “Harder and harder” to preserve communication channels with Hamas due to “the escalation of bombings in Gaza and elsewhere, which frankly complicates hostage negotiations”. Israeli hostages held in Gaza will only be released according to “terms” of Hamas, warned its leader Ismaël Haniyeh on Tuesday during a televised speech.