The fate of approximately 20 hostages currently held by militant groups in Gaza hangs in the balance following the Israeli security cabinet’s recent approval of a controversial plan to expand military operations and take control of Gaza City. This decision, made on August 8, 2025, diverges from the Israeli military’s recommendations and poses serious risks for the hostages.
During a violent outbreak beginning on October 7, 2023, Hamas led an attack resulting in around 1,200 deaths and the abduction of over 250 individuals, including both Israelis and foreign nationals. Alongside Hamas, militants from Palestinian Islamic Jihad participated in the hostage-taking.
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum, representing numerous families impacted by the abductions, has described the government’s military escalation as a “death sentence to the living hostages” and fears it would lead to an increased risk of execution by their captors.
Current estimates indicate that about 20 hostages survive in Gaza, alongside 30 deceased individuals. Recent footage of two captives from late July has raised alarm, depicting them as frail and emaciated, leading to concerns over their viability.
To date, many hostages taken on October 7 have been released in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, though over three dozen have reportedly died in captivity. This includes seven hostages murdered by their captors and others killed amidst Israeli military actions. Some hostages were mistakenly shot by Israeli soldiers who believed they were militants, while the fates of many others remain unclear.
Families expressed their anxiety over the military plan, fearing that it might inadvertently result in the deaths of their loved ones either through direct military action or through retaliation from Hamas. In response, families engaged in a protest outside Israel’s cabinet, physically chaining themselves to emphasize their opposition to the cabinet’s decision.
A representative from the Hostages and Missing Families Forum voiced strong concerns, arguing that escalating military conflict would only increase the peril to those still underground, entreating for a shift toward negotiation rather than military intervention.
Despite public discontent, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended the operational strategy, asserting that it aims to secure the release of the hostages while mitigating future threats posed by Gaza.
