Overview

• Speaking in the Oval Office, President Trump said the number of living hostages could be below 20 and offered no further evidence for the claim.
• Trump called the situation extortion and argued a rapid military operation might be safer than continued negotiations to free the captives.
• Israel’s point man on the issue, Gal Hirsch, told families there is no change to the official assessment that 20 hostages are alive.
• Hirsch’s message, cited in local reports, also noted 28 captives have been declared deceased and two are in grave danger.
• Hostage families’ advocates reiterated that about 50 people remain in Hamas captivity and pressed for urgent action to bring them home.