Hamas Unsure How Many Hostages Are Alive in Gaza A spokesman for Hamas admitted in an interview that aired on Thursday that the militant group does not know the fate of the approximately 120 hostages Israel claims are still in Gaza following the Oct. 7 attacks. The return of these hostages is a crucial element in the latest cease-fire proposal to end the conflict in Gaza, with U.S., Egyptian, and Qatari mediators attempting to broker an agreement between Israel and Hamas. Israel has stated that at least a third of the remaining hostages have died. The uncertainty surrounding the hostages has become a contentious political issue in Israel, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu facing criticism over his handling of the conflict and calls from international allies to protect Palestinian civilians and rescue the remaining hostages. The terms of the proposed cease-fire involve releasing hostages in three phases, with women and older people being freed first, followed by the release of any remaining Israeli hostages, and concluding with the exchange of the remains of those who have died. However, the lack of clarity on the hostages' fate has complicated negotiations, with Hamas expressing the need to see concrete commitments from Israel before accepting the proposal. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken and U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan have indicated that there are still significant gaps between the parties, with the Biden administration working with other mediators to bridge these differences and reach a truce agreement.