The Israeli government confirmed there are no signs of life from three of the 59 remaining hostages held by Hamas, sparking a new wave of grief and frustration among families. Two of the captives are foreign nationals—Bipin Joshi of Nepal and Pinta Nattapong of Thailand—and one is an Israeli soldier, Tamir Nimrodi.

An Israeli official speaking Thursday said, “No signs of life have been received from them since shortly after the outbreak of the war.” The confirmation came just a day after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu acknowledged that, while 21 hostages are definitively alive, the status of three others is now in serious doubt.

The statement, following remarks by both Netanyahu and President Donald Trump, shattered the fragile hope held by many families. Trump, speaking from the Oval Office earlier this week, remarked that three hostages had died—appearing to contradict Israel’s official count.

At a press briefing Thursday, the Prime Minister’s Office reiterated that “Israel will never give up” on retrieving all its citizens. Yet families say the government’s rhetoric does not match its priorities. A leaked IDF document ranking the return of the hostages last among six military goals in Gaza has only intensified public outcry.

For Cherut Nimrodi, mother of captive IDF soldier Tamir Nimrodi, the silence has been unbearable. “There’s no new information,” she said. “But now, after Sara Netanyahu and Trump both raised the issue, the fear is back in full force. I’m very worried. I can’t even describe what that means to me.”

Hostage families have called on Netanyahu to pause the military offensive until all hostages are released, labeling their return as Israel’s “most urgent national mission.” But the IDF is pressing ahead with a large-scale ground campaign in Gaza, having received cabinet approval to fully conquer and hold the Strip.

Meanwhile, diplomatic channels remain active. Arab nations, including Jordan, are reportedly pressuring Hamas to accept a deal, and Israeli officials hope U.S. President Trump’s upcoming visit to the region will tip the balance. “We are saying: take this deal now,” an official told The Times of Israel. “Because if war resumes, the terms will be far worse.”

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