It has been more than 580 days since 251 people were taken hostage by Hamas during the militant group’s attack on southern Israel.
Israeli soldier and US citizen Edan Alexander walked free from Gaza overnight, the first hostage to be released by Hamas since February.
Hamas called the New Jersey-born 21-year-old's release a "goodwill gesture" following months of stalemate in talks between Hamas and Israel.
But Israeli strikes on the battered enclave soon resumed.
The release could open the way to freeing the remaining 58 hostages known to still be in Gaza, amid four-way talks between Hamas, the United States, Egypt and Qatar.
The Hamas attacks in Octoevbr 2023 killed 1,200 people in Israel, according to Israeli tallies.
Israel attacked Gaza in retaliation, launching a military campaign that has so far killed more than 52,800 Palestinians, mostly civilians, according to local health authorities.
The bombardment has left Gaza's 2.3 million people facing a dire humanitarian crisis, with aid supplies dwindling rapidly since Israel imposed a blockade in March.
How many people have been released?
A total of 147 hostages have returned to Israel alive, in a mix of exchange deals, rescue missions, and one unilateral release by Hamas.
Most of the releases came during two temporary ceasefires in late 2023 and early 2025, which also saw Israel release nearly 1,800 Palestinian prisoners.
And some hostages did not make it out alive. Twelve-year-old Eitan Yahalomi was freed in November 2023 but his father Ohad's body was not returned until February this year.
Overall the bodies of 44 hostages have been repatriated to Israel, according to news outlets. The numbers could not be independently verified.
Among those released alive were five Thai workers. One Thai hostage is still being held in Gaza.
How many are still being held?
Fifty-eight hostages are still being held by Hamas, but only 21 are believed to be alive, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday, confirming comments made by US President Donald Trump.
Three Israeli hostages who were previously thought to be living may be dead, the Israeli leader said.
"We know for certain that 21 are alive — that's not in dispute," Mr Netanyahu said.
"There are three others where, unfortunately, it's uncertain whether they're alive."
Of the hostages who are believed to be dead, three are foreigners and the rest are Israelis.
Who is still alive?
It remains unclear which hostages are still alive.
The remaining hostages are aged between 19 and 85 years old, according to the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, a volunteer-based organisation.
In a statement on Monday, Hamas said: "Continuing the aggression prolongs their suffering and may kill them."
What's significant about Edan Alexander's release?
The US told Israel that Hamas freeing Alexander would lead to negotiations for the release of more hostages, Israel said.
Arab mediators Qatar and Egypt described the release as an encouraging step towards a return to ceasefire talks in the war-torn enclave.
"We affirm that serious and responsible negotiations achieve results in the release of prisoners," Hamas said in a statement.
"We affirm the movement's readiness to immediately begin negotiations to reach a comprehensive and sustainable ceasefire agreement, including the withdrawal of the occupation army, the end of the siege, a prisoner exchange, and the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip."
Israel's decision to resume strikes on Gaza in March inflamed debate in Israel, with mass protests over Mr Netanyahu's handling of the hostage crisis.
But he also faces demands from his hard-line allies not to accept any deal that falls short of Hamas's destruction.
Einav Zangauker, whose son Matan is one of the hostages who is believed to still be alive, said Mr Netanyahu was choosing his political survival over ending the war.
Addressing Mr Trump in a statement she said: "The Israeli people are behind you. End this war. Bring them all home."
Efrat Machikawa, a relative of freed hostage Gadi Moses, said Israelis "must take to the streets" to demand an end to the war.
"If Netanyahu refuses, we should reconsider to take action to topple him in order to save the hostages," she said.
What happens next?
Hamas insists it will free hostages only as part of a deal to end the war and has rejected demands to lay down its arms while Israeli attacks continue.
There has been no deal on a wider truce or hostage releases.
On Monday Mr Netanyahu's office said Israel did not commit to any ceasefire or prisoner release with Hamas, but only to a safe corridor that would allow Edan Alexander's release.
The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, a global hunger monitor, reported on Monday that half a million people in the Gaza Strip faced starvation, and there was a critical risk of famine by September.
ABC/wires
