Israel-Gaza live updates: Sources say there are 'problems' with Monday’s hostage list

Thousands of people have died and thousands more have been injured since the militant group Hamas launched an unprecedented surprise attack on Israel on Oct. 7 and Israel retaliated with a bombing campaign and total siege of the neighboring Gaza Strip, leaving the region on the verge of all-out war.

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Latest Developments

Nov 27, 8:26 AM

Kirby talks possible release of more American hostages in Gaza

U.S. National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said Monday that an estimated seven to 10 American hostages remain in the war-torn Gaza Strip.

“We know that there are other Americans being held hostage. We’re certainly going to do everything we can hour by hour to get them released,” Kirby told ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos in an interview on “Good Morning America.”

“We know that there were 10 unaccounted for, missing Americans,” he added. “We think that the large majority of them are in this hostage population. But we don’t have great fidelity past that.”

Video: John Kirby talks possible release of more American hostages in Gaza cease-fire

Kirby noted that it’s also “difficult to know” exactly how many total hostages are in Gaza and which groups are currently holding them.

“We have to assume there are a couple hundred or so,” he said. “We also have to assume, George, that Hamas isn’t holding all of them — that the other groups, potentially the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, for instance, another radical extremist terrorist group there operating out of Gaza, could be holding some. But it’s going to be up to Hamas now to track all them down and see if we can arrange for their exchange.”

With a four-day cease-fire between Gaza’s militant rulers, Hamas, and Israel set to expire Tuesday morning, a fourth and final prisoner swap is expected to take place Monday between 4 and 6 p.m. local time, according to Israeli authorities.

“We’re into day four now and so our hope and expectation is yet another instalment of hostages will get released sometime later today,” Kirby told ABC News. “There have been delays in the past couple of days. We’ll see if we have to work through any delays today.”

“We would very much like to see this pause continue and more hostages exchanged as a result,” he continued. “Isreal has said they’re willing to do that. It’s really going to be up to Hamas now to determine whether they’re willing to come up with more hostages in coming days.”

-ABC News’ Morgan Winsor

 Nov 27, 6:31 AM

Sources say there are ‘problems’ with Monday’s hostage list

Discussions are being held on a list that was received overnight regarding the final group of hostages who are expected to be released by Hamas in the Gaza Strip on Monday, according to the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office.

The office said in a statement on Monday morning that the list “is now being evaluated in Israel” and “additional information will be issued when possible.”

Sources told ABC News that there are “problems” with the current list for Monday.

Monday’s prisoner swap between Hamas and Israel — the fourth round amid a four-day cease-fire — is expected to take place between 4 and 6 p.m. local time.

-ABC News’ Jordana Miller, Dana Savir and Morgan Winsor

 Nov 26, 6:14 PM

Israel’s President Herzog to meet with Elon Musk Monday

Israel’s President Isaac Herzog is set to meet with Elon Musk on Monday afternoon, his office said Sunday.

“Against the background of the ongoing war with Hamas, President Isaac Herzog will tomorrow (Monday), meet with businessman Elon Musk, who is visiting Israel,” the president’s office said in a statement Sunday evening.

“[R]epresentatives of the families of hostages held by Hamas, who will speak about the horrors of the Hamas terror attack on October 7, and of the ongoing pain and uncertainty for those held captive,” the statement continued. “In their meeting, the President will emphasize the need to act to combat rising antisemitism online.”

The meeting will be closed to the media.

The Tesla boss also owns social media platform X, formerly Twitter.

-ABC News’ Jordana Miller

 Nov 26, 11:27 PM

Abigail Idan’s aunt asks for privacy for the family as they reunite

Abigail Idan’s aunt, Ella Mor, has asked for privacy for the family as they reunite with the 4-year-old, who was released earlier Sunday after being held hostage since Oct. 7 by Hamas.

“She just landed in the hospital and she’s being checked and taken care of,” Mor said in the video. “I want to thank everybody for all of your love and support. It’s amazing, and thank you so much.

“I just want to say she has family, and we’re taking care of her, so don’t worry about it, and it’s very important to let her be now with the family, and no press and photographs and paparazzi,” she continued. “It’s very important for her safety and health right now, so thank you so much.”

Undated handout picture of Israeli hostage Abigail Edan, 4, who was released after being taken hostage during the October 7 attack by Palestinian militant group Hamas

 Nov 26, 4:10 PM

Hamas says it would be willing to extend truce

“The Islamic Resistance Movement Hamas is seeking to extend the truce after the end of the four-day period, by seriously considering increasing the number of released detainees as stated in the humanitarian truce agreement,” Hamas said in a statement Sunday.

The AFP news agency reported that a source close to Hamas said the group also informed mediators of its willingness to extend the current truce.

-ABC News’ Ayat Al-Tawy

 Nov 26, 4:09 PM

Biden, Netanyahu speak about hostages, latest developments in Gaza, White House says

President Joe Biden spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday about the latest developments in Gaza, including the release of more hostages, the White House said.

“The President welcomed the release of hostages by Hamas over the past three days, including a young American girl. The two leaders also discussed the pause in the fighting and surge in much needed additional humanitarian assistance into Gaza,” the White House said.

President Joe Biden speaks to reporters in Nantucket, Mass., Nov. 26, 2023, about hostages freed by Hamas in a third set of releases under a four-day cease-fire deal between Israel and Hamas.

The Israeli prime minister’s office also issued a statement following their conversation, saying they spoke with “great excitement” about the hostages who were released, including 4-year-old Abigail Idan.

“What a joy to see her with us. But on the other hand, what a pity that she returns to the reality of not having parents. She has no parents — but she has a whole nation that embraces her and we will take care of all her needs,” Netanyahu’s office said.

-ABC News’ Justin Ryan Gomez

 Nov 26, 3:52 PM

84-year-old Israeli hostage who was released is in ‘serious condition,’ IDF says

Alma Avraham, an 84-year-old Israeli hostage released by Hamas Sunday, was taken to Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba in “serious condition,” IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari said.

“Alma, who was returned to us in serious condition, was immediately evacuated by helicopter to the hospital. She was evacuated by IDF troops while still inside Gaza,” he said during a press conference.

This undated photo released by Hostages and Missing Families Forum Headquarters shows Alma Avraham, 84 years old. Alma Avraham was part of the third group of hostages released by Hamas on Nov. 26, 2023, as part of truce deal.

Due to “medical reasons” and to ensure the safety of the hostages, 13 of them were escorted out of Gaza by special forces near the community of Be’eri, “in full coordination with Egyptian security authorities,” Hagari added.

In a short statement, Soroka said Avraham is in “poor physical condition and severe clinical condition.”

 Nov 26, 1:11 PM

Netanyahu tours Gaza Strip, PM’s office says

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu toured the Gaza Strip on Sunday and vowed the return of all of the hostages taken by the Hamas terror group, according to the prime minister’s office.

Netanyahu spent time with Israeli commanders and fighters and visited one of the Hamas tunnels uncovered by Israeli forces, the prime minister’s office said in a statement.

“We are here in Gaza with our heroic fighters,” Netanyahu said in a video released by his office showing him wearing a helmet and flak jacket, and surrounded by Israeli soldiers. “We make every effort to return our abductees, and eventually we will return them all. We have three goals for this war: eliminate Hamas, return all our abductees, and ensure that Gaza does not become a threat to the State of Israel again.”

Netanyahu added, “We continue until the end — until victory. Nothing will stop us, and we are convinced that we have the power, the strength, the will and the determination to achieve all the war’s goals, and we will.”

-ABC News’ Bruno Nota and Jordana Miller