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There are no more hostages in Gaza
Executive summary
Available reporting as of mid–November to late November 2025 shows that most living hostages taken to Gaza have been released, but multiple outlets report that the bodies of three slain hostages remain in Gaza (names reported: Dror Or, Ran Gvili and Sudthisak Rinthalak) [1] [2] [3]. International organizations and governments continue to press for returns and document handovers, and some additional remains have been transferred in recent weeks while three deceased remain unreturned according to Reuters, AP, UN and major Israeli outlets [4] [5] [6].
1. Where the reporting stands: releases but some remains still held
Major news outlets and reference compilations record that living Israeli hostages were largely freed under an October 2025 ceasefire and Gaza peace plan, yet the bodies of three hostages were still being held in Gaza as of mid– to late‑November 2025 [1] [7] [8]. The Times of Israel and Wikipedia both list Dror Or, Ran Gvili and Thai national Sudthisak Rinthalak as the three whose bodies remained in the Strip [2] [1]. Reuters and AP likewise say Israel has received additional remains but that three deceased hostages remain in Gaza [4] [5].
2. What “no more hostages in Gaza” would mean — and why reports contradict that wording
A claim that “there are no more hostages in Gaza” would imply both that all living captives were returned and that all bodies of the deceased were repatriated. Sources show the first half largely occurred with the release of living hostages under the ceasefire/peace plan in October 2025, but the second half had not been completed: reporting documents ongoing searches for bodies, handovers of some remains via the Red Cross and the persistence of three deceased hostages still held inside Gaza [7] [5] [4]. Thus the literal statement “no more hostages” is not supported by the cited reporting, because multiple outlets explicitly state that three hostages’ bodies remained in Gaza [2] [4] [6].
3. Which sources track the status and their perspectives
News wire services (Reuters, AP), legacy outlets (The New York Times, BBC), and compilations (Wikipedia, Times of Israel) all track releases and remaining cases but emphasize different angles: Reuters and AP highlight ongoing transfers and official exchanges coordinated with the Red Cross [4] [5]; The New York Times and BBC focus on the broader diplomatic and humanitarian context of the ceasefire and releases [7] [9]; The Times of Israel and specialized hostages forums report names and family reactions with more granular local detail [2] [10]. The UN noted that although many remains had been returned some bodies were still outstanding [6].
4. Recent developments: handovers and searches
Reporting in November 2025 documents a sequence of handovers and searches: some bodies and remains were transported by Red Cross convoys and handed over to Israeli authorities, and militant groups said they were still searching within Gaza for other bodies [5] [4]. Reuters states Israel received the body of Meny Godard and that three remains were still held; AP and PBS reported additional transfers and ongoing searches, with militants and international workers looking for remains north of Nuseirat and elsewhere [4] [5] [11].
5. Why this matters: politics, family closure and leverage
The return of remains is highly political and emotional: families seek closure and burial, while governments treat handovers as part of ceasefire and prisoner‑exchange negotiations. International actors — the ICRC, the UN and mediators tied to the US‑brokered plan — are involved in search, transfer and diplomatic pressure [7] [5] [6]. Reporting notes that some returns have occurred in exchange for prisoner releases or as part of ceasefire terms, and that unresolved cases remain a point of contention [4] [7].
6. Limits of current reporting and recommended caution
Available sources do not claim that every single hostage case is resolved; rather they repeatedly indicate that three deceased hostages remain in Gaza as of the cited dates [1] [2] [4]. If you encounter a claim stating “no more hostages in Gaza,” it conflicts with multiple contemporaneous reports that explicitly document outstanding remains and ongoing searches [2] [4] [6]. For the most up‑to‑date confirmation, review the latest dispatches from Reuters, AP, ICRC and official Israeli statements because handovers and search results can change rapidly [4] [5] [6].
7. Bottom line for readers
The journalistic record in mid‑ to late‑November 2025 shows the vast majority of living hostages taken to Gaza were released under the ceasefire/peace plan, but several credible outlets report that three hostages’ bodies were still being held in Gaza and that searches and Red Cross‑facilitated handovers were ongoing [7] [2] [4]. Claims that “there are no more hostages in Gaza” are contradicted by the cited reporting; available sources do not support that absolute statement [1] [4].