Nearly a year since Hamas and other militant groups kidnapped at least 251 people from Israel into Gaza, a cease-fire deal most likely to get them out alive and end the soaring death toll among Palestinians has remained elusive. Last month's recovery of six hostages who were killed by their captors shortly before Israeli soldiers found them added fresh urgency to the desperation of families still waiting for their loved ones' return.
"We can't allow ourselves not to have hope," said Lee Siegel, the brother of Keith Siegel, an American who has been held in Gaza since he and his wife, Aviva Siegel, were kidnapped on Oct. 7.
Aviva Siegel was among the more than 100 hostages released in a temporary cease-fire deal in November after 52 days in captivity. Lee Siegel, 72, said in a phone interview Tuesday that he believes a more permanent cease-fire deal "is the only way to return hostages alive."
NBC News takes a look at the hostages who remain in Hamas captivity.
How many are still there?
Of the at least 251 people who were taken hostage, according to Israeli officials, at least 154 have been released by Hamas, rescued by the Israel Defense Forces, recovered dead or killed in encounters.
The majority of the released hostages — 105 — were freed during a brief temporary cease-fire in November, in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.
At least eight are known to have been rescued alive in IDF operations, including one in June, when Noa Argamani, 26, whose story became widely known after video of her capture went viral on social media, was rescued along with three others.
In December, three hostages — Alon Shamriz, Yotam Haim and Samer Talalka — were shot and killed by Israeli soldiers, who said they mistook them for combatants, though they were holding a white flag. Other hostages have been found dead, including the six Hamas killed last month. Israeli American Hersh Goldberg-Polin, 23, was among them.
The IDF said Sunday that three other Israeli hostages — Nik Beizer, 19, Ron Sherman, 19, and Elia Toledano, 28 — whose bodies were found last year in underground tunnels in Gaza were also most likely killed in an Israeli military airstrike aimed at a Hamas commander.
As of Monday, at least 97 people taken hostage on Oct. 7 are believed to still be in Gaza, with around a third of them, or at least 33 people, believed to be dead, according to Israeli officials.
Hamas also holds two hostages, one taken in 2014 and the other in 2015, as well as the bodies of two slain Israeli soldiers. Including those four raises the tally to 101 people, 35 of whom are believed to be dead.
During the Hamas-led attack on Oct. 7, 1,200 people, including hundreds of IDF soldiers, were killed, according to Israeli officials.
More than 41,300 people have been killed in Gaza since Israel began its offensive 11 months ago, according to local health officials, with thousands of people believed to be buried under rubble, suggesting the death toll could be much higher.
Who are the Americans?
At least seven people with American citizenship remain in Hamas captivity, and at least three of them are believed to be dead, according to Israeli officials.
Keith Siegel, 65
Keith Siegel, 65, is among those believed to still be alive.
His brother Lee Siegel said the last update he received about his status was a video released by Hamas' military wing, the Qassam Brigades, in April showing Siegel and hostage Omri Miran. In the video, Siegel and Miran spoke about not being able to celebrate Passover with their loved ones.
Siegel said he would not "feel reassured until Keith is on his way home."
Sagui Dekel-Chen, 36
Sagui Dekel-Chen was taken hostage from the Nir Oz kibbutz.
