Eight of the hostages who were going to be released by Hamas are dead, according to Israel.

The Israeli government spokesperson, David Mercer, announced this Monday that Israel has received a list from Hamas. It indicates that only 25 of the 33 hostages to be released in the first phase of the ceasefire are still alive.

"I confirm that Israel has received a list from Hamas with the status of the 33 hostages to be released in this first stage. The information matches Israeli intelligence reports. Of the 33 hostages, 25 are alive and eight have been killed by Hamas."

Mercer reported this during a video conference with the press. The spokesperson also noted that the families of the hostages have been notified about the status of their loved ones.

So far, neither Israel nor Hamas have revealed the names of the hostages who are still alive or those who have died. All of them have been in captivity for more than 15 months, since October 2023, when the conflict began, which has left thousands of victims.

Among the group of 33 hostages is the Israeli-Argentine family Bibas—the children Ariel and Kfir, their mother Shiri, and their father Yarden. In November 2023, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad had announced the death of Shiri and her children in an Israeli attack, although the Israeli Army was never able to verify that information.

To date, seven hostages, including three civilians and four female soldiers, have been released in two rounds of exchange. This was for a total of 290 Palestinian prisoners, as had been agreed.

This Thursday, a new exchange is scheduled, in which the Israeli Arbel Yehud will be released. A hostage who, as previously reported, should have already been released. This led Israel to accuse Hamas of breaking the terms of the truce.

Currently, 87 of the 251 hostages kidnapped by Hamas on October 7 remain in Gaza. This includes the bodies of at least 34 people who have already been confirmed dead by the Israeli Army.

Albares Proposes Sending the Guardia Civil to Support the Palestinian Authority

José Manuel Albares is once again in the spotlight for the new proposal. Spain would participate in a mission with the European Union in Rafah, following the truce between Israel and Hamas, by providing Guardia Civil personnel. The deployment would take place at the border crossing to ensure the circulation and access of humanitarian material to the Gaza Strip.

Albares himself explained this in statements to the media upon his arrival at the meeting of European foreign ministers. He did so by pointing out that this force would be deployed in Rafah, the only border crossing between Egypt and Palestine (Gaza).

He indicated that it aims to "help control the entry and exit of people."

This way, the Foreign Minister expressed his intention to join the mission that the Union is outlining in Rafah. "The Guardia Civil will be present at the meeting," Albares asserted.

He also expressed Spain's support for deploying a mission to help "with the entry and exit of people."

The truth is that this new proposal hasn't been well received by a large part of Spaniards. Many have criticized the deployment of agents to Rafah when they didn't arrive in Valencia in a timely manner.

This has sparked controversy upon learning of the minister's new proposal.

Regarding the figures, details of the European Union deployment, in which Spain would be involved, Albares has sent information to Kaja Kallas. The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, as well as about his meetings with representatives of the Palestinian Authority.