Netanyahu says 21 hostages are definitely alive, but there is ‘doubt’ about 3 others

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Wednesday there is “doubt” as to whether three Israeli hostages held in Gaza are still alive, after comments by his wife and by US President Donald Trump had called into question Israel’s official estimate that 24 living hostages remain in the Strip.

“We know for certain that there are 21 [hostages] alive, about this there is no dispute,” Netanyahu said in a video message posted to his X account, but “there are another three who, unfortunately, there is doubt if they are alive.”

“We are not giving up on any of them,” he added.

Netanyahu’s comments came after Trump said Tuesday night that he had information indicating that only 21 of the hostages remained alive, fewer than the official Israeli figure.

Those comments came days after Sara Netanyahu also said the number of hostages thought to still be alive in Gaza was lower than 24.

Trump’s comments sent shockwaves through the families of the hostages, who demanded they be provided with any updates.

The 24 hostages presumed to be alive who are still held by Hamas: Top row, from left: Elkana Bohbot, Matan Angrest, Edan Alexander, Avinatan Or, Yosef-Haim Ohana, Alon Ohel. Second row, from left: Evyatar David, Guy Gilboa-Dalal, Bipin Joshi, Rom Braslavski, Ziv Berman, Gali Berman. Third row, from left: Omri Miran, Eitan Mor, Segev Kalfon, Nimrod Cohen, Maxim Herkin, Eitan Horn. Bottom row, from left: Matan Zangauker, Bar Kupershtein, David Cunio, Ariel Cunio, Tamir Nimrodi, Pinta Nattapong. (Hostages Families Forum)

“The number of living hostages as is known to the families, provided to them by official sources, is 24,” the Hostage Families Forum said in a statement the same evening. “We demand again…if there is new intelligence being kept from us, pass it to us immediately.”

Following Trump’s comments, Israeli sources speaking to Kan news also indicated “grave concerns” over the lives of three captives.

יש כלל אחד שמנחה אותי: ישראל תגן על עצמה – בכל מקום, מול כל איום, בכוחות עצמה.

צפו בעדכון חשוב ממני >> pic.twitter.com/YHPwmXBr5d

— Benjamin Netanyahu – בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) May 7, 2025

Amid resurgent worry over the hostages’ status, Haaretz also revealed Wednesday that in a military document outlining plans for a new Gaza offensive, the IDF had ranked the return of the hostages as its least important objective.

The document, presented to commanders Tuesday, placed the Hamas-held captives in sixth and last place, a fact incongruent with army officials’ previous assertions to the Israeli public that the return of the hostages was the IDF’s most important war goal.

According to Haaretz, the document stated the following objectives: 1. Defeating Hamas; 2. Operational control over the territory; 3. Demilitarizing the territory; 4. Striking Hamas government targets; 5. Concentrating and moving the population; 6. Returning the captives.

IDF Spokesman Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin said Monday that returning the hostages was the army’s most important goal, and defeating Hamas was second. A senior IDF official made similar remarks to reporters last week.

The IDF did not immediately respond to the Haaretz report.