Washington: US President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that three hostages previously held by Hamas in Gaza have died, adjusting the number of those believed to be alive from 24 to 21. Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump mentioned, "They said, well, only 24 are living, but now it's 21. That was a week ago. As of today, it's 21, three have died," providing no additional details about the identities of the deceased or the source of this information. He further expressed the gravity of the situation, stating efforts are ongoing to secure the hostages' release.

According to Anadolu Agency, Trump's statement aligns with a prior comment from Sara Netanyahu, wife of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who had previously indicated that fewer than 24 hostages remained alive. In response to Trump's comments, Gal Hirsch, the Israeli coordinator for the hostages, posted on X that Israel's official count of living hostages remains at 24.

In a related development, Israel's Security Cabinet recently approved a plan to broaden its military operations in Gaza, including occupying parts of the Palestinian territory. The conflict has resulted in the deaths of over 52,600 Palestinians since October 2023, with a significant number of casualties being women and children.

Legal proceedings have also intensified, with the International Criminal Court issuing arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant in November, charging them with war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Additionally, Israel is facing a genocide case at the International Court of Justice related to its actions in the enclave.