Israel-Hamas war: More than 30 of the remaining hostages dead, IDF claims

Israeli officials have informed the families of the victims about the suspected deaths.

Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, Israel’s chief military spokesman, told a news briefing: “We have informed 31 families that their captured loved ones are no longer among the living and that we have pronounced them dead.”

However, Hagari was unable to confirm the cause of their deaths.

The New York Times also quoted four Israeli officials in claiming unconfirmed intelligence suggested 20 more hostages may also be dead.

More than 240 Israeli hostages were taken into Gaza following Hamas' October 7 attack which resulted in 1,140 deaths.

• Iran 'used British banks to move money around globe' despite sanctions
• Pro-Palestine professor who said 'Zionism has always been racist' and one of the 'five pillars of Islamophobia' wins landmark case against dismissal
• BBC worker who denied Holocaust and called Jews 'invader species' and 'Nazis' is finally sacked after huge outcry

Over 100 hostages were released in a hostage deal last year in exchange for the release of Palestinian female and child prisoners.

Hamas has released proof of life for just a handful of hostages.

Reports about the suspected deaths come as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces increasing pressure to reach a deal to return the remaining Israeli captives.

Protests calling for Netanyahu to negotiate the release of remaining hostages have intensified in recent weeks.

Israel remains locked in mediated negotiations with Hamas.

Gadi Eisenkot, a member of Netanyahu’s war cabinet, said: “There will probably be a hefty price that we must courageously accept for bringing back those we left to be captured on October 7 while we carry on with the military goals of destroying Hamas.”

Israel is also facing growing calls to declare a ceasefire after mounting its onslaught against Gaza.

The Strip’s Hamas-run Health Ministry claimed the total number of deaths hit 27,478 yesterday.