Israel-Hamas ceasefire: Who are remaining hostages and when might they be freed?
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More than 250 foreign and Israeli hostages taken by Hamas in the 7 October attack, according to Israel, with 94 still in Gaza. More than a year after Hamas attacked southern Israel on 7 October 2023 – killing around 1,200 people and taking another 250 captive – 94 hostages still remain, although Israel believe around a third are dead.
![[Emily Damari and her mother Mandy Damari are pictured together on a beach]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/10/06/15/newFile-5.jpg)
The official Israeli figure for the total number of people still held in Gaza is 98, although this also includes four who were taken in 2014 and 2015, with two of those believed to be dead. A ceasefire deal announced on Wednesday promises the release of the hostages held by Hamas and other Palestinian militant factions in Gaza.
![[The home of Ariel Cunio and Arbel Yehud standing empty in kibbutz Nir Oz in December, 14 months after they were taken hostage by Hamas]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/12/06/17/Israel_Hostages_59099.jpg)
Thirty-three hostages are set to be released over the next six weeks, while the remainder, including male soldiers, are to be released in a second phase that will be negotiated during the first. Hamas has said it will not release the remaining captives without a lasting ceasefire and a full Israeli withdrawal.
![[Kobi Ben Ami, 54, holds a picture of his brother of Ohad, 55, who is still being held hostage in the Gaza Strip by Hamas]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/10/06/14/0P4A4873.jpg)
However, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said on Thursday that his Cabinet will not meet to approve the agreement until Hamas backs down from what he called a “last minute crisis” – accusing Hamas of backtracking on the deal. Hamas has denied this and Mr Netanyahu is no stranger to posturing.
![[Chanan Choen, along with his wife, Edna Choen, hold up portraits of his sister, 77-year-old Margalit Moses, and her husband, 79-year-old Gadi Moses]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2023/10/31/16/Israel_Palestinians_Families_of_Hostages_Photo_Gallery_27550.jpg)
The Independent details who some of these remaining hostages are, below:. Emily Damari (28). The 28-year-old dual British-Israeli national was kidnapped from Kibbutz Kfar Aza. Her mother Mandy told a memorial event held in London on 6 October that the hostages who had been released the previous November had said to her that they had had contact with her daughter while in captivity.
![[A woman visits an installation honouring those who were killed and kidnapped in the Supernova music festiva]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/10/06/13/SEI224653256-copy.jpg)
