Gunmen of the Palestinian organization Hamas they kidnapped at least 200 hostages and they killed about 1,400 people during the October 7 raid in the Gaza Strip on communities and military bases in southern Israel.

Israel has retaliated by pounding Gaza with airstrikes, killing thousands of people, and has said it will take action to free the hostages and wipe out Hamas.

Israel has massed armored vehicles and troops near the enclave’s perimeter and called on Palestinians to leave northern Gaza ahead of an expected ground invasion. Hamas has hinted that a hostage exchange may take place with approximately 6,000 Palestinians held in Israeli prisons.

In 2011, Israel was criticized by some of its own citizens for exchanging 1,027 Palestinian prisoners to secure the release of an Israeli soldier.

Israel has said it will not end its blockade of the enclave without freeing the Israeli hostages.

How many hostages are there?

An estimated 200 people, including 30 teenagers and children and 20 people over the age of 60, are being held hostage in Gaza, Israel’s Kan network reported yesterday, citing military sources.

Hamas claims it has 200 hostages and that another 50 are being held by other armed groups in the enclave. He has said that more than 20 hostages have been killed by Israeli airstrikes, without giving further details.

Where are the hostages?

Israel says the hostages have been taken to Gaza but their exact location inside the enclave is unknown, further complicating their rescue. Officials have said many may be held in the maze of tunnels under Gaza, which Israeli troops call the ‘Gaza Metro’.

What nationality are the hostages?

The hostages include people from various countries, while many also have Israeli citizenship.

Twenty or more Americans are missing, US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said on Tuesday, adding that he could not say how many of them were being held hostage. Republican Sen. Jim Reese told reporters Tuesday that 10 of the hostages are Americans.

Thailand revised the number of its citizens in detention to 17. Eight Germans are among the hostages, about half of whom were captured in kibbutzim, according to local media.

Argentine President Alberto Fernandez said in a video call with relatives that 16 of his compatriots are being held.

At least 9 British nationals have been killed and 7 are missing, Prime Minister’s spokesman Rishi Sunak said. During his trip to Israel yesterday, Thursday, Sunak met with the families of two of the missing, who are believed to have been taken hostage and are being held in Gaza.

France has not said exactly how many of its citizens are being held in Gaza, and although 7 are missing after the attacks, some of them are being held hostage.

Ofir Engel, an 18-year-old Dutchman, was kidnapped from Kibbutz Beeri and taken to Gaza, according to the Dutch government.

Portugal says it believes four missing Portuguese and Israeli nationals have been taken hostage. Dafna Garkovic, an Israeli and Chilean national, was taken hostage along with her Spanish husband, her father said. Italy has announced that two Italian and Israeli nationals are missing and believed to have been kidnapped.

Hamas’ armed wing said on October 16 that the non-Israeli abductees were considered “guests” and would be released “when conditions on the ground permit.”

What have governments said they are doing about the hostages?

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appointed a retired general, Gal Hirsch, as Israel’s coordinator for hostages and missing persons.

Qatari mediators have said they are trying to negotiate the release of Israeli women and children kidnapped by Hamas in exchange for the release of 36 Palestinian women and children from Israeli prisons, a source with knowledge of the talks told Reuters. So far there is no indication that a deal is imminent.

Turkey is also in talks with Hamas to secure the release of foreigners, civilians and children, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on Tuesday. He told the state-run Andalou news agency that countries including the US and Germany have asked for Turkey’s help in securing the release of their citizens.

American Joe Biden said his administration is making every effort to locate the American hostages held by Hamas. The US sent a small team of special forces to Israel to help gather intelligence and plan any operations to rescue the hostages.

Britain’s Sunak said his government is talking to partners in the region and trying to secure the return of the hostages.

Argentina’s Fernandez said his government was in talks with Israeli intelligence to track down the Argentine hostages.

Germany has launched an investigation into Hamas members suspected of murder, manslaughter and hostage-taking. Under German law, prosecutors are obliged to investigate alleged crimes abroad if they involve German citizens.

What do the families of the hostages say?

American citizens in Tel Aviv called on Biden to use all means to locate and rescue their abducted relatives.

Hundreds of protesters marched through Times Square in New York yesterday, Thursday, demanding the release of hostages, holding placards with pictures of people believed to have been kidnapped, including babies and the elderly.

The families of missing citizens with French and Israeli citizenship have called on French President Emmanuel Macron to help locate their own people.

The families of German hostages said they would march in Berlin on Sunday demanding the release of their relatives.