3 Gaza captives presumed dead as Trump, Netanyahu confirm 21 are still alive

CAIRO – 9 May 2025: Both US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed this week that 21 out of 59 captives still held in Gaza are alive.

Trump confirmed that three captives have died, decreasing the number of living captives until recent time from 24 to 21.

Meanwhile, Netanyahu said that there is “no dispute” that 21 captives are alive, but “there are another three who, unfortunately, there is doubt if they are alive.”

Trump’s remarks preceded that of Netanyahu.

“We are not giving up on any of them,” Netanyahu asserted in a video message posted on his X account.

The announcements came days after Netanyahu’s wife, Sara Netanyahu, said “fewer” than 24 captives are still alive in Gaza, interrupting him while mentioning pertinent figures amid the ongoing war.

This revelation has sparked outrage among families of the captives, who are seeking clarity on the status of their relatives still being held in Gaza since October 7, 2023.

“There are … up to 24 living,” Netanyahu said at a meeting with Israeli holiday torchbearers late in April, before his wife, who was sitting beside him, was overheard on mic saying “fewer.”

Captive Situation

Hamas continues to hold 59 captives, with 38 presumed dead now, and has expressed readiness to release all remaining captives in exchange for an end to the Israeli war.

On 18 March, Israeli forces resumed bombardment on Gaza, shattering a two-month ceasefire that had resulted in the release of 38 captives, 30 of whom were alive.

Hamas has announced a “comprehensive package” proposal, which includes the release of all captives they still hold in Gaza, alive and deceased, in exchange for an end to the war.

Israel, however, does not want to end the war and has instead shown willingness to only implement a temporary truce in exchange for the release of captives.

Trump on Wednesday hinted at a potential new Gaza ceasefire and captive release deal, saying more information is probably coming on in the coming 24 hours.

However, an official involved in the mediation efforts on Wednesday refuted the existence of any fresh proposals, stating that while negotiations are ongoing, a concrete agreement remains elusive.

Egypt and Qatar, who along with the US mediated two truces between Hamas and Israel since the war erupted -one in November 2023 and the other in January 2025, have renewed their constant commitment to mediation efforts in Gaza.

In a joint statement on Wednesday, both Arab states vowed to continue their endeavors to reach a permanent and comprehensive ceasefire and an end to the war.

Hamas has warned that the renewed Israeli aggression represents "a death sentence" for the remaining captives.

'Escaping Death'

Since Israel resumed the war in Gaza, Hamas has released videos of several captives, including Israelis Maxim Herkin and Bar Kupershtein who appeared together in one video in April saying that they escaped death after an Israeli strike hit a building they were in.

A month later, Herkin appeared alone in another Hamas video while lying down with his head and one eye bandaged, while saying he does not know about his friend’s fate now following Israeli strikes on their location.

Hamas released a video of captive Maxim Herkin, who delivers a message of distress while lying down with his head and one eye bandaged. He says he has survived Israeli strikes twice since the resumption of war in March#Egypt #Africa #MENAhttps://t.co/JBOD4920TY

— Egypt Today Magazine (@EgyptTodayMag) May 4, 2025

Also, Hamas in April said they could not confirm the fate of US-Israeli captive Edan Alexander, believed to be the last living US captive held in Gaza, following the recovery of the body of a Palestinian man assigned to guard him.

Hamas posted a video for Alexander only few days before their announcement of losing contact with the captors of Alexander, where he said that he thinks he will “come home dead.”

“Every day, I think the bombing is getting closer to our heads, and this is really difficult. We are losing hope,” Alexander said during the video, while visibly angry and struggling to hold back tears.

Alexander addressed Trump during the video, blaming him for listening to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin “Netanyahu’s lies.”

Since the war in Gaza broke out in October 2023, Israeli forces have killed over 52,700 Palestinians, including over 2,600 since the renewal of attacks in March, according to Gaza health authorities.