Official says 3 hostages whose fate is in doubt are two foreigners, one Israeli

A day after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirms that Israel believes 21 hostages are alive and that there is grave doubt regarding the fate of three other captives, an official with knowledge of the details says that “no signs of life have been received from [the three hostages] since the period shortly after the outbreak of the war.”

“Their families have been updated on this situation since then,” says the official.

Two are foreign nationals, and one is Israeli, the official continues.

Two foreign hostages have not been officially declared dead – Bipin Joshi of Nepal and Pinta Nattapong of Thailand.

Hamas and other terror groups are holding 59 hostages, 35 of whom are confirmed dead – 32 Israeli, and 3 foreigners.

“The families of the hostages are continuously and thoroughly updated about the condition of their loved ones,” says the official, adding that “all relevant information” is conveyed to hostage families by intelligence officers.

The relevant embassies in Israel maintain contact with the families of foreign hostages, says the official.

“Their families are supported by Israel, just as the families of Israeli hostages are supported.”