Israeli government spokesman David Menser said that 8 hostages who were released in the first phase of the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas have died. However, the names of these dead have not been made public. But the spokesperson confirmed that families have been informed about the condition of their relatives.

This makes it clear that out of the 26 hostages who were released under the first phase, only 18 are alive now. The ceasefire agreement, which came into force on January 19, has ended the 15-month conflict that had been going on since the October 7, 2023 attack by Hamas.

Under the first phase of the agreement, 33 Israeli citizens held hostage in Gaza are to be released in exchange for Palestinians. So far, 7 Israeli women and 290 Palestinian prisoners have been released under the ceasefire agreement.

On October 7, 2023, Hamas launched an attack on the southern Israeli border. About 1,200 people were killed in this attack and about 250 others were taken hostage. According to Gaza health officials, Israel launched retaliatory attacks on Gaza. More than 47,000 Palestinians have been killed in these attacks.

The first phase of the three-phase ceasefire agreement involves the large-scale delivery of humanitarian aid and reconstruction of infrastructure in Gaza. Apart from this, Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails and Israeli prisoners held by Hamas are also being exchanged.

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