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Thursday, October 12, 2023
IDF says 81 families of hostages now notified; Gaza terror groups say holding at least 130
Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian is The Times of Israel's military correspondent
IDF spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari says the military has so far notified the families of 81 hostages being held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
“We are aware of the uncertainty but there is a tension between reliability and speed and understanding what is happening on the ground, it must be accurate,” he says in a call with reporters.
Hamas and Islamic Jihad claim to be holding 130 hostages, with some reports estimating at least 200 are held in the Gaza Strip.