Speaking to reporters at the White House Friday afternoon, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby was asked about the status of five American hostages -- Keith Siegel, Sagui Dekel-Chen, Omer Neutra, Edan Alexander and Hersh Goldberg-Polin -- who are still being held in the Gaza Strip by Hamas terrorists. They were kidnapped on October 7, 2023.
Kirby said he didn't have an update on their status, but did say he has no indication they are not alive.
REPORTER: "The five American hostages who are still unaccounted for. Is there any new intelligence about their whereabouts or their potential wellbeing?"
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) May 17, 2024
KIRBY: "Sadly, no." pic.twitter.com/9Q6hJc3AVm
The question comes after the IDF announced Friday the recovery of three hostages who were killed.
Bodies of Three Israeli Hostages Recovered From Hamas Tunnels by IDF
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) May 17, 2024
https://t.co/ikwAIlEmWS
Shani Louk, Amit Buskila and Yitzhak Gelernter were kidnapped and murdered by Hamas terrorists on October 7 from the Nova Music Festival.
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) May 17, 2024
Overnight, our troops recovered their bodies and brought them back home to Israel.
We will continue operating to bring all of our hostages… pic.twitter.com/ya8IoZ8Dvb
Two weeks ago Hamas published a propaganda video featuring American hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin. His arm was severely injured and blown off when he attempted to throw a grenade out of a bomb shelter at the NOVA music festival. He was taken hostage in a pickup truck, surrounded by screaming terrorists.
“We love you, be strong and survive.”
— Israel ישראל (@Israel) October 18, 2023
Hersh Goldberg-Polin was at a musical festival when Hamas terrorists started murdering innocent civilians.
His arm was blown off from the elbow down.
That’s the last time he was seen.
Help us bring him home by sharing this. pic.twitter.com/nIr6JjAfvZ
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