HERZLIYA: Two years after the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack that triggered the war in Gaza, Israel has yet to recover 48 of the hostages taken that day, around 20 of whom are believed to be alive. A new US-supported peace initiative has renewed hopes of securing their release.
Among those freed earlier this year is Eli Sharabi, 53, who said he was held for 16 months in tunnels under Gaza. He was released in February as part of a ceasefire agreement.
Only after his release did Sharabi learn that his wife and two teenage daughters had been killed during the Oct. 7 assault on Kibbutz Be’eri. “There can be no closure,” he said, “until all the hostages return.”
According to Israeli officials, Hamas-led militants killed about 1,200 people and abducted 251 others during the Oct. 7 attack. Most hostages have since been freed through ceasefires or negotiated exchanges.
Israeli Police and military inquiries have confirmed that some Israeli civilians were unintentionally killed by Israeli forces during the initial fighting, as troops attempted to repel the Hamas-led attackers and prevent abductions during the Oct. 7 attack. Officials have said the deaths occurred amid crossfire and confusion during the surprise assault.
