President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that three more hostages held by Hamas in Gaza have died, bringing the total number of living hostages down to 21.
“They said only 24 are living and I now correct, I say 21 because as of today it’s 21,” Trump said to reporters at the White House. “Three have died. So this is a terrible situation.”
Fifty-nine hostages, both living and deceased, remain in Gaza, according to official numbers.
“We’re trying to get the hostages out, we’ve gotten a lot of them out. As the expression goes, there are 21 plus a lot of dead bodies,” the president added.
BRUCE PEARL USES FINAL FOUR SPOTLIGHT FOR AMERICAN HOSTAGE EDAN ALEXANDER: ‘NOBODY KNOWS HIS NAME’
Trump did not clarify which hostages died, or if 21-year-old American citizen Edan Alexander is among them.
NEW: Trump says that three more hostages held by terrorists in Gaza have died, bringing the total of living hostages down to 21 out of 59. pic.twitter.com/cy13oI73dt
— Kassy Akiva (@KassyAkiva) May 6, 2025
“These are young people, and young people don’t die,” Trump added. “Old people die, but young people don’t die under these conditions.”
The Israeli government has not yet confirmed Trump’s claim, though Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s wife Sara told reporters the number was less than 24, the Times of Israel reported.
HOW TRUMP AND RUBIO PUT AMERICA FIRST IN 100 DAYS
Trump made the comment during the official swearing-in of Steve Witkoff as U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East. Witkoff has been tasked with negotiating a ceasefire and hostage deal between Hamas and Israel.
On Sunday, Israel’s Security Cabinet approved a plan to invade and occupy the Gaza Strip in an expanded ground operation.
The plan, named “Operation Gideon’s Chariots,” will go into effect if Hamas fails to reach an agreement with Israel by the end of President Donald Trump’s visit to the Middle East next week.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said military action would be intensified during the operation which he believes will help rescue the hostages.
RUBIO ORDERS PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS OFFICE TO FOLD INTO ISRAEL’S JERUSALEM EMBASSY
“We decided on intensified action in Gaza,” Netanyahu said. “That was the IDF chief of staff’s recommendation — to move, as he said, toward the defeat of Hamas. He believes this will also help us rescue the hostages. I agree with him.”
Tens of thousands of IDF reservists are expected to be called up to help with the operation, which is reportedly one of the largest since the war began in October 2023.
