It has been more than 580 days since 251 people were taken hostage by Hamas during the militant group’s attack on southern Israel.
Israeli soldier and US citizen Edan Alexander walked free from Gaza overnight, the first hostage to be released by Hamas since February.
The 21-year-old soldier in the Israeli Army, who was born and raised in New Jersey, was released on Tuesday by Hamas as part of a goodwill gesture following a stalemate between Israel and Hamas for the past few months.
But Israeli strikes on the battered enclave soon resumed.
The release, after four-way talks between Hamas, the United States, Egypt and Qatar, could open the way to freeing the remaining 58 hostages in the Gaza Strip, 19 months after Hamas's attack on Israel in October.
Many of the hostages were captured during the October attacks that killed 1,200 people, and saw 251 taken hostage back to Gaza, according to Israeli tallies.
Israel bombarded Gaza for the Hamas attack in a military campaign that has killed more than 52,800 Palestinians, mostly civilians, according to local health authorities.
The bombardment has left its 2.3 million population in a dire humanitarian crisis, with aid supplies dwindling rapidly since Israel imposed a blockade in March.
How many people have been released?
A total of 147 hostages have returned to Israel alive, in a mix of exchange deals, rescue missions, and one unilateral release by Hamas.
Most of the hostages returned alive to Israel so far were released as part of deals with Hamas during two temporary ceasefires in late 2023 and early 2025.
Hamas had released 38 hostages under a ceasefire that began in January, in return for the release of nearly 1,800 Palestinian prisoners.
The January ceasefire halted fighting in Gaza for two months and allowed the exchange of hostages before Israel resumed its military campaign in March.
About 105 hostages were released in a ceasefire last November in another exchange for the release of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel.
Eitan Yahalomi, 12, was released in November 2023, although his father, Ohad Yahalomi, was sadly among the bodies taken back to Israel in February.
The bodies of 44 hostages were repatriated to Israel, according to news outlets — but these numbers could not be independently verified.
Among the hostages, five Thai workers, who were kidnapped by Hamas during the October attack, were released and reunited with their families.
After 480 days, Bannawat Saethao was released alongside his compatriots Watchara and Sathian, as well as Surasak Rumnao, 32, and Pongsak Thaenna, 36.
But there is still one Thai hostage held in Gaza.
How many are still being held?
There are now 58 Israeli hostages still held by Hamas, but only 21 are believed to be alive, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday, confirming comments made by US President Donald Trump.
Three Israeli hostages in Gaza previously thought to be living may be dead, the Israeli leader said.
"We know for certain that 21 are alive — that's not in dispute," Mr Netanyahu said.
"There are three others where, unfortunately, it's uncertain whether they're alive."
Edan Alexander was the last living American held by Hamas, and Israel's Channel 12 said his condition was "low", without citing a source.
Of the 21 hostages who are believed to be dead, three are foreigners and the rest are Israelis.
Who is still alive?
It remains unclear which hostages are still alive.
According to the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, a volunteer-based organisation advocating to bring their loved ones home, the remaining hostages are aged between 19 and 85 years old.
In a statement on Monday, Hamas said, "Continuing the aggression prolongs their suffering and may kill them."
What's significant about Edan Alexander's release?
The American release comes after Hamas claimed they lost contact with the 21-year-old and his guards amid Israel's continued bombardment.
The prime minister's office said the US told Israel that Hamas's freeing of Alexander would lead to negotiations for the release of more hostages.
Arab mediators Qatar and Egypt described the release as an encouraging step towards a return to ceasefire talks in the war-torn enclave.
"We affirm that serious and responsible negotiations achieve results in the release of prisoners," Hamas said in a statement.
"We affirm the movement's readiness to immediately begin negotiations to reach a comprehensive and sustainable ceasefire agreement, including the withdrawal of the occupation army, the end of the siege, a prisoner exchange, and the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip."
The return to fighting has inflamed the debate in Israel as Mr Netanyahu faces mounting domestic pressure with mass protests over his handling of the hostage crisis.
But he also faces demands from his hard-line allies not to accept any deal that falls short of Hamas's destruction.
Einav Zangauker, whose son Matan is among 21 hostages still believed to be alive, said Mr Netanyahu was choosing his political survival over ending the war.
Addressing Mr Trump in a statement she read with other hostage families, she said: "The Israeli people are behind you. End this war. Bring them all home."
Efrat Machikawa, a relative of freed hostage Gadi Moses, said Israelis "must take to the streets" to demand an end to the war.
"If Netanyahu refuses, we should reconsider to take action to topple him in order to save the hostages," the protester said.
What is to come?
Hamas insists it will free hostages only as part of a deal to end the war and has rejected demands to lay down its arms due to uncertainty around Israel intensifying its military.
Palestinian health officials reported Israeli tank shelling and an air attack after the hostage handover, and there was no deal on a wider truce or hostage releases as monitors warned of famine in the devastated enclave.
After Israeli fire resumed, authorities in Gaza said an air strike killed three people and wounded several others at a shelter housing displaced families in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip.
A woman was killed and several other people wounded when tank shells hit a school housing displaced families in the Tuffah neighbourhood in the north of Gaza.
A statement from Mr Netanyahu's office said on Monday that Israel did not commit to any ceasefire or prisoner release with Hamas, but only to a safe corridor that would allow Israeli-American hostage Mr Alexander's release.
The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, a global hunger monitor, reported on Monday that half a million people in the Gaza Strip faced starvation, and there was a critical risk of famine by September.
ABC/wires
