WASHINGTON (AP) - President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that three hostages held by Hamas in Gaza have died, reducing the estimated number of living hostages to 21. This update comes amidst ongoing tensions following Hamas's assault on Israel on October 7, 2023.
During his statement, Trump specified the current situation of the hostages, stating, "As of today, it’s 21, three have died." He pointed out that the number of living hostages had previously been 24. However, he did not provide any details regarding the identities of the deceased hostages or the source of his information about their deaths. Trump emphasized the tragic reality by adding, "There’s 21, plus a lot of dead bodies."
Among the hostages previously believed to be alive was Edan Alexander, an American citizen. Furthermore, several bodies of other Americans are believed to be in the possession of Hamas following the violent surge of hostilities in early October.
The president’s remarks coincide with Israel's recent approval of plans to implement extensive military operations in the Gaza Strip. This action aims to recover hostages and seeks to achieve broader military objectives, specifically targeting the dismantling of Hamas. Such a move would significantly escalate Israel's military presence and activities within Palestinian territories, raising expectations of substantial international backlash against these military operations.
In a separate development, the U.S. State Department confirmed on Tuesday that the U.S. embassy facilitated the departure of 17 U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents from Gaza on Monday. Acknowledging the cooperation of international partners, the department expressed gratitude towards the Israeli and Jordanian governments for their assistance in this operation.
On the same day, Secretary of State Marco Rubio held discussions with King Abdullah II of Jordan in Washington, addressing the ongoing crisis and cooperating on strategies to manage the repercussions of the conflict in the region.
The situation in Gaza remains tense as military strategies unfold and humanitarian concerns mount, amidst ongoing discussions about the fates of hostages and the safety of civilians in the region.
