Live Update 
From the Liveblog of
Tuesday, October 31, 2023
From the Liveblog of
Tuesday, October 31, 2023
Army says at least 240 hostages taken October 7 being held in Gaza
Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian is The Times of Israel's military correspondent
A poster shows Israelis seized by terrorists on October 7, at a press conference in Tel Aviv on October 30, 2023. (AHMAD GHARABLI / AFP)
IDF spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari says the military has so far notified the families of 240 hostages that their loved ones are being held in the Gaza Strip, upping the number of confirmed people who were abducted on October 7 to at least 245.
He says the number is not final as the military investigates new information.
The number does not include four released hostages — mother and daughter Judith and Natalie Ra’anan, and elderly women Yocheved Lifshitz and Nurit Cooper — or Pvt. Ori Megidish, who was rescued by the IDF on Sunday night.
There are still dozens more missing people whose fates are currently unknown.
