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Israel-Gaza latest: IDF confirms 'decline in forces' in southern Gaza - BBC News Israel-Gaza latest: IDF confirms 'decline in forces' in southern Gaza - BBC News
(32 minutes later)
As we’ve been reporting, 253 people were taken hostage by Hamas on 7 October. Our coverage is closing now but you can continue reading about the latest updates and analysis about the Israel-Gaza war here:
Of these, 109 have been released as part of prisoner exchanges or in separate deals and three have been rescued by the Israeli army. Our Middle East editor Jeremy Bowen reflects on six months of conflict: Obstacles to peace seem larger than ever after six months of war
About 130 remain unaccounted for, at least 34 of whom are presumed dead. The bodies of 12 hostages have been recovered, including three that the IDF admitted to accidentally killing in one of their operations. BBC Verify assesses the evidence behind Israel's key war aim of destroying Hamas: Six months on, how close is Israel to eliminating Hamas?
The most recent of these was recovered yesterday, when the Israeli army announced it had returned the body of Elad Katzir from the Khan Younis area of southern Gaza. Israel says it will open a crossing to northern Gaza, where starvation is most acute, and will also open a major port. But how will the new the Erez and Ashdod Gaza aid routes work?
Hamas says the number of dead hostages is higher than this as a result of IDF air strikes, but it is not possible to verify these allegations. You can also read more on our Israel-Gaza war page here.
The two youngest hostages taken in the Hamas attacks were Ariel and Kfir, who were 4 years and 9 months old respectively at the time of their abduction. Their deaths have been reported, but not confirmed. Today's live page was written by Lipika Pelham, Thomas Mackintosh and Jemma Crew, and edited by Alys Davies, Emily McGarvey and Jack Burgess.
The BBC has put together stories of those hostages who are still being held, which have either been confirmed by the BBC or credibly reported
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