WASHINGTON, D.C. – President Donald Trump stated today that some of the 20 hostages presumed to be alive in Gaza may have “recently died,” as the Israeli military intensifies its operations and calls for Palestinians to evacuate Gaza City.
Speaking to reporters at the Oval Office, President Trump expressed his concern, stating, “It’s 20 people but I think of the 20 there could be some that have recently died is what I’m hearing. I hope that’s wrong.” He added that the administration is “in very deep negotiations with Hamas” to secure the release of the remaining hostages, cautioning that a “tough situation” lies ahead.
The Israeli government currently maintains that 47 hostages remain in Gaza, with 27 believed to be deceased. President Trump’s remarks, which followed a recent similar statement in August, have not been confirmed by Israeli officials. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum, while not directly addressing the president’s latest comments, thanked him for his efforts to bring the hostages home.
The statement comes as the Israeli military expands its presence in Gaza City, which it claims now controls 40% of the enclave. The military has urged Palestinians to evacuate to the Mawasi area in Khan Younis, describing it as a humanitarian zone. However, maps provided by the Israeli military show no humanitarian support sites north of the Netzarim Corridor, raising concerns about the well-being of the approximately one million residents of Gaza City. Hamas has urged residents not to leave, calling the evacuation routes “the path to death.”
The International Red Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has described the mass evacuation as “unfeasible and incomprehensible,” citing the widespread destruction of civilian infrastructure and severe shortages of essential supplies. Despite the warnings, only a fraction of Gaza City’s population has evacuated.
Meanwhile, a ceasefire deal remains in limbo. Hamas recently accepted a Qatari and Egyptian-mediated proposal for a 60-day temporary ceasefire in exchange for a mass release of Palestinian prisoners. Israel has not yet responded, demanding, among other things, that Hamas completely disarm. President Trump has urged a resolution, warning that a failure to reach a deal could lead to a “nasty” outcome.
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