1. Fighting between Israel and Hamas started on October 7, 2023, resulting in over 1,200 deaths and approximately 250 hostages taken by Hamas to the Gaza Strip.
2. After two weeks of conflict, a US woman and her daughter were released by Hamas on humanitarian grounds. A ceasefire was later reached under Qatari mediation, during which Hamas freed about 100 Israeli and foreign captives in a seven-day truce.
3. The ceasefire remained in effect from January to March this year, with Hamas gradually releasing around 40 more hostages in phases. However, at least 59 hostages have died in captivity, a fact confirmed by the Israeli military, as reported by Reuters news agency.