US President Donald Trump on Tuesday said that three more hostages held by militant group Hamas in Gaza have been killed, and only 21 hostages are believed to be alive.
Trump said that 24 hostages were alive in Gaza when he last met former Israeli hostages during their visit to White House, but “as of today it’s 21, three have died”.
Trump did not elaborate on the identities of those hostages claimed to be dead, nor did the president detail on how he had come to learn of their deaths.
President Trump said it a-month-and-a-half ago. I am also saying it today – we will settle accounts with whoever attacks the State of Israel. »
— Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) May 6, 2025
“There’s 21, plus a lot of dead bodies,” Trump said during a swearing-in ceremony for his Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff in White House.
President Trump’s comment came as the Israeli cabinet approved a plan on Monday to seize the Gaza Strip and to stay in the Palestinian territory for an unspecified amount of time, shifting focus from getting back the hostages to occupying all of Gaza.
If the plan, which has been passed by the Israeli cabinet, gets implemented then there would be further escalation and hostilities in the region and Tel Aviv would expand its operations in Gaza Strip and it is also likely to draw fierce international opposition.
“We want to try and get as many hostages saved as possible. This is a terrible situation,” Trump said.
In the latest update by the Israeli military, 251 people who were taken hostage by Hamas in its surprise attack on October 7, 2023, 58 are still held in Gaza with about 34 believed to be dead, news agency AFP reported.
(with inputs from agencies)
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