Who Are the Remaining Hostages in Gaza That Hamas Will Release Today?

Under the terms of the new Israel–Hamas ceasefire agreement, the Palestinian militant group Hamas is set to release dozens of hostages it has held in Gaza for the past two years. In exchange, Israel will free over 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees on Monday as part of the historic prisoner swap.

According to Israeli authorities, out of the 48 hostages still remaining in Gaza, about 20 are believed to be alive. Here is a detailed look at who they are and their stories:

NOVA MUSIC FESTIVAL HOSTAGES

The majority of those expected to be released today were abducted from the Nova Music Festival near Kibbutz Reim in southern Israel during the initial Hamas attacks. The victims include musician Alon Ohel (24), Avinatan Or (32), and Evyatar David (24). David appeared in a Hamas propaganda video in August, looking frail and declaring he was “at his own burial.”

Global attention had earlier focused on the viral video showing Or being captured while his girlfriend, Noa Argamani, screamed and reached for him as both were dragged away by armed militants. Argamani was rescued during an Israeli operation in June.

HOSTAGES TAKEN FROM KIBBUTZIM

Seven hostages were kidnapped from small Israeli farming communities, or kibbutzim, located near the Gaza border. Among them are brothers Ariel Cunio (28) and David Cunio (35), who were taken along with David’s wife, Sharon, and their two young daughters. Also among the captives are twins Gali and Ziv Berman (28). Sharon and her daughters were released during a short-lived truce in November 2023.

ISRAELI SOLDIERS AMONG THE HOSTAGES

Two Israeli conscript soldiers, Matan Angrest (22) and Nimrod Cohen (20), were captured by Hamas fighters during the October 7, 2023 attacks. Their release is being closely watched, as their captivity has become a national rallying point in Israel.

FOREIGN NATIONALS STILL MISSING

Of the 48 hostages, four are foreign citizens. Two Thai workers and a Tanzanian student have been officially declared dead in absentia, while Bipin Joshi, a Nepalese student, remains unaccounted for. His fate continues to be a mystery as no communication or proof of life has been received.

HOSTAGES CONFIRMED DEAD

Based on Israeli intelligence reports and forensic analysis, 26 of the hostages have been formally declared dead. Among the two whose status remains unknown is Bipin Joshi. Hamas has stated that retrieving the bodies may take additional time, as several burial sites are yet to be located due to the ongoing destruction in Gaza.

To aid in this process, Israel has formed a multinational task force to coordinate the search and identification of remains. Some of the captives were reportedly killed during Israeli air raids, while others were executed by their captors inside Gaza.

One of the deceased soldiers was originally captured during the 2014 Israel-Hamas war, while the remaining 251 hostages were taken during the October 7, 2023 Hamas invasion that reignited full-scale conflict between Israel and Hamas.

Officials believe that some of those captured were already deceased when taken into Gaza, while others may have died due to injuries or retaliatory strikes. As Israel awaits the return of the living and the bodies of the fallen, this prisoner exchange marks both a somber and significant turning point in the long-running Israel-Hamas conflict.