Hostages point man reassures families that 20 captives still alive after Trump suggests otherwise

Government hostages point man Gal Hirsch tells the families of captives in Gaza that there is no change in Israel’s information about the status of the hostages, after US President Donald Trump told reporters at the White House that “probably” fewer than 20 hostages were still alive.

“According to Israel’s information, there is no change in the information you have received from us: 20 of the hostages are alive, there are grave concerns for the lives of two and 28 are no longer alive and are considered slain hostages,” Hirsch says in a statement and to the families.

The statement comes after hostage families expressed dismay at Trump’s comments, both for suggesting there were fewer than 20 living hostages and for appearing to disregard the 30 other hostages.

“Mr. President, there are 50 hostages held by Hamas in Gaza. For us, each and every one of them represents an entire world,” the Hostages and Missing Families Forum said in an English-language statement.

The Forum also accused Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, Israel’s lead hostage negotiator, of failing to talk with the families, and called on him to share any new information he might have.

“If Minister Dermer, who doesn’t bother to speak with or meet the hostage families, knows something different [from the official Israeli figures], he should have updated the families first,” the Forum said.

In Hebrew, the Forum also said the American-born Dermer “speaks only with the Americans.” The accusation was absent from the English statement.