Israel Confirms Number Of Its Hosted Citizens Increases To 212, Palestinian Death Toll Reaches 4,741

Victims of Israeli attacks on Gaza October 2023. (Wikimedia Commons/Palestinian News & Information Agency (Wafa) in contact with APAimages)

JAKARTA - Israeli authorities have confirmed the number of its citizens held hostage in Gaza is increasing, while the death and injuries on the Palestinian side have also continued to increase, since armed conflict broke out in the region following the Hamas attack two weeks ago.

Israeli military spokesman (IDF) Rear Admiral Daniel Badhi said his party had so far notified the 212 families of hostages related to detention in the Gaza Strip.

But he said the number was not final because the military was continuing to investigate new information about those missing, as quoted by The Times of Israel, October 23.

It was also said that the number did not includepy Raanan and his daughter Natalie, who Hamas released on Friday night.

Last week, Laksda Badminton said the number of those held hostage in the Gaza Strip reached 203 people.

Meanwhile, the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza on Sunday revealed that the death toll in Gaza since October 7 has risen to 4,741 and more than 15,898 people have been injured, citing The Guardian.

Ministry spokesman Dr. Ashraf Al-Qidra said, over the past 24 hours, 266 people have died including 117 children, as quoted by CNN.

In addition, the ministry has received 1,450 phone calls regarding missing persons believed to be under the rubble, 800 of whom are children, added Al-Qudra.

On the other hand, Israeli authorities said at least 1,400 people were killed and 5,431 others injured on their side, as quoted by ABC News and The Times of Israel.