Uncertainty lingers over the fate of the hostages trapped in Gaza, with more than 100 still believed to be in Hamas captivity.

Recent reports suggest that a ceasefire deal, and accompanying hostage releases, could be “imminent”, but it remains unknown whether those on Hamas’ initial list are even alive.

Israeli officials told reporters today that a final deal has been submitted to the terror group via mediators in Qatar.

The Biden administration is particularly keen to have an agreement in place by the end of its term on January 20.

So who are the hostages with British links still believed to be in Gaza and could we see them brought home soon?

Emily Damari

The only British citizen still held hostage in Gaza, Emily was abducted from her home in southern Israel on October 7, 2023.

Her mother Mandy, from Surrey, also had her home attacked but says she was spared capture after a terrorist’s bullet jammed the lock of the room she was hiding in.

She told BBC News that her daughter suffered gunshot wounds in the assault which could have been fatal.

“I fear that she's dead,” she said, adding: “If she's not dead, she's not getting enough food to eat, she's not able to wash herself, drink water, she could be ill.

"She's suffering from gunshot wounds to her hand and her leg... I worry every day, I worry every second because in the next second, she could be murdered, just because she's there.”

The 28-year-old was, however, named among the 34 hostages Hamas listed as being prepared for potential release under a ceasefire deal.

Oded Lifschitz

 

Oded Lifschitz, 84, was abducted from the Nir Oz kibbutz, where 46 others were massacred by terrorists during the October 7 attack.

A founding member of that Kibbutz, he served as a paratrooper in the 1950s before working as a journalist for Al Hamishmar for over a decade.

He and his wife Yocheved are also long-time peace activists and have worked for an organisation that provides medical care for Palestinians.

Their grandson Daniel told Fox News: “For more than a decade, he and my grandmother have been taking sick people [to Israel] from Gaza, people who had cancer and other diseases that they could not get treated at hospitals inside Gaza.

“And he went to the border, the most extreme, explosive border of the Middle East, to take those people to hospitals in Israel and bring them back even though both of them themselves were sick.”

Yocheved was also taken by Hamas on October 7, before being released on October 23.

The couple have a British-Israeli daughter, Sharone, who has called on the British government to do more to secure the release of the hostages.

She told BBC News: “I don’t know if my father is dead or alive… we want the British government to see the hostages with British links as their problem.
Oded’s name did appear on the latest Hamas release list, but his condition is not known.

Eli Sharabi

Eli, 52, was taken from his home in Kibbutz Be’eri during the Hamas attacks, while his wife Lianne, who was born in Bristol, and their two teenage daughters Noiya and Yahel were murdered.

His brother Yossi was also taken alongside him, but has since been found dead – his remains are believed to still be held in Gaza.

Gill and Pete Brisley, Lianne’s parents, described her as a “wonderful person” and a “devoted mother”.

Her brother Steve told BBC News: “Hope is all we've got.

"[We] don’t know whether he’s alive or dead.

“We know he was alive in November [2023] but that is the sole piece of news we've had.”

Like Emily and Oded, he was listed among the 34 names provided by Hamas earlier this month.

Avinatan Or

  

The 20-second clip of Avinatan and his girlfriend Noa Argmani being kidnapped from the Nova music festival has become one of the most enduring images of the October 7 attacks.

Footage of the young woman being bundled onto the back of a motorcycle, her arms stretched out towards her partner as she pleaded for their lives was shared widely on social media.

Noa was rescued along with three others by the IDF and Shin Bet in June last year, but Avinatan remains in Gaza.

His mother Ditza, who is a British-Israeli citizen, told the JC: “There are no words that can explain what a mother feels, what I felt at that moment.

"It's like lightning striking, but from all directions at once. Then all the light inside of you disappears, and the darkness means no thoughts, no emotions, no air, nothing. Just nothing.”

She explained that she had been told by the intelligence agencies that there had been several “indications of life” related to Avinatan, but that there has been no news since May.

His name is not among the 34 listed by Hamas earlier this month.

Keith Siegel

Keith, an America-Israeli originally from North Carolina, was abducted from his home alongside his wife Aviva.

She was released by Hamas the next month, but Keith remains in Gaza according to the latest updates the family – who include a cousin in the UK – have received.

A proof of life video featuring Keith was released by the group in April last year.

Now 65, his name did appear on the proposed release list.

Keith’s mother Gladys passed away aged 97 in December.

His daughter Elan wrote on Facebook: “My father’s mother passed away and my father couldn’t say goodbye to her because he’s been in Hamas captivity for over a year.

"Dad won’t be able to stand with us at the cemetery tomorrow, he won’t be able to say goodbye to the woman who raised him and loved him his whole life.”

Tsachi Idan

Like many of the other hostages, Tsachi was taken from his home on Kibbutz Nahal Oz during the Hamas attacks.

His daughter, Ma’ayan was killed by terrorist gunmen during the attack.

According to his wife Gali, the last indication that the 50-year-old, who has a cousin in Brighton, was alive came from released hostages she met in November 2023.

He was named on the prospective release list.

Ilan Weiss

Ilan’s body was taken hostage by Hamas after he was murdered on Kibbutz Be’eri on October 7, 2023.

His wife and daughter were also taken hostage but were released the next month.

His remains are still believed to be in Gaza.

He had a cousin in the UK.

Shay Levinson

A sergeant in the IDF, German-Israeli Shay was murdered by terrorists as they stormed Kibbutz Nahal Oz.

He was a keen volleyball player and had an aunt who lives in Brighton.

Shay’s body is also believed to remain in Gaza.