More than half of the 116 Israeli hostages still held in Gaza may already be dead, US officials fear as desperate families beg for the return of their loved-ones

Families are growing in despair as US officials estimate there are only 50 Israeli hostages left alive in Gaza.

Of the 250 hostages taken during the bloody Oct. 7 invasion of southern Israel, 116 are still being held captive, the Washington Post reports.

Now mediators in the hostage talks and a US intelligence insider have told the newspaper that the number of people still alive could be less than half.

Israel has not confirmed the figures, which would mean that 66 of the people still held hostage could be dead – 25 more than the government has publicly acknowledged.

Distraught relatives of those remaining in Gaza say they can wait no longer and are calling for their loved ones to be released immediately before it is too late.

People lift banners and portraits of Israelis being held hostage by Palestinian militants in Gaza, during an anti-government rally in front of the Israeli parliament in Jerusalem, calling for early elections on June 17, 2024

Many, including Gili Roman, whose sister was released but family member Carmel Gat is still among the remaining hostages, said families dreaded phone calls.

“It’s about who gets a call that your relative’s body has been found or that he has been declared dead,” he said.

An IDF operation brought home four hostages in June, including 26-year-old Noa Argamani, who was kidnapped from the Nova festival on October 7.

Tragically, many prisoners did not escape with their lives The bodies of 19 hostages have been returned to Israel, including eight in the past three months.

Israel has determined that another 41 hostages are dead in Gaza, with families demanding their bodies be found and repatriated.

A statement from the Hostages Families Forum, following several reports from US intelligence sources: ‘All hostages must be released immediately.

“There should be no distinction between returning living hostages for rehabilitation and returning those murdered for proper burial.

“The international community must take action to ensure the safe return of all 120 hostages and support the proposed deal. Time is of the essence and we cannot let this critical moment pass us by.”

A screen shows a photo of Noa Argamani who was kidnapped during the deadly October 7 attack and has since returned home

Neither the IDF, the Israeli government nor Israel’s Shinbet intelligence service have commented on the report or confirmed the figures.

Hamas has told mediators it does not know how many hostages are still alive, saying some are being held by other groups in Gaza.

Israel’s ground and air campaign was triggered when Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel on October 7, killing about 1,200 people and capturing more than 250 hostages, according to Israeli figures.

The offensive has left Gaza in ruins, killing more than 37,400 people and leaving almost the entire population homeless and destitute, according to Palestinian health authorities.

A military vehicle maneuvers near the Israel-Gaza border, amid the conflict between Israel and Hamas, seen from Israel, June 20, 2024

Since a week-long ceasefire in November, repeated attempts at a ceasefire have failed, with Hamas pushing for an end to the war and full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.

Ceasefire talks between the two sides, mediated by the US, Egypt and Qatar, have been at an impasse for weeks.

An agreement, as with previous agreements, would include the exchange of hostages with Palestinian prisoners in Israel.

Israel was initially unwilling to accept dead bodies in the deal, but the latest proposal presented to Hamas says it would accept the return of deceased hostages to meet the numbers.

Israel has vowed to keep fighting until Hamas is destroyed, while the group has said a way to end the war is among the demands in the talks.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he will only agree to temporary pauses and will not end the war until Hamas is eradicated and the hostages released.