From the Liveblog of
Tuesday, April 29, 2025
Netanyahu wife says fewer than 24 hostages still alive in Gaza
Lazar Berman is The Times of Israel's diplomatic reporter
A video published by the Prime Minister’s Office shows the premier’s wife Sara Netanyahu whispering that fewer than 24 hostages remain alive in Gaza, information that is not publicly known.
The comment comes during a meeting held Monday between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and torch-lighters for Israel’s 77th Independence Day.
“There are up to 24 alive, up to 24 alive,” Netanyahu says in the video as he mentions efforts to return 59 hostages remaining in Gaza.
Sara, sitting beside him, then audibly whispers “less.”
“I say up to,” Netanyahu says after a brief pause, “and the rest of course unfortunately are not alive, and we will return them.”
In the video, Netanyahu speaks at length about Israel’s successes against Hezbollah, Syria, Iran, and the Houthis, and waxed poetic about the heroism of Israel’s soldiers, but failed to mention the hostages still held by Hamas and other terror groups in Gaza.
As Sara Netanyahu begins speaking after his remarks, Transportation Minister Miri Regev, seated to his left, writes something on Netanyahu’s notepad, immediately after which he begins to speak about bringing them back.
The Times of Israel Community.