The situation, wrt the hostages, is so ugly now that it clearly pains news organizations to spell out or political leaders to openly speak about-
1. Of the remaining hostages, a unknown number have been killed. Some by Israeli bombs, perhaps (all deaths will be blamed, by Hamas, on Israeli bombs). Others have been killed by neglect or murdered.
2. Surviving hostages, at best, are in horrible conditions. At worst, they receive regular torture and sexual assault, or both.
3. There is no central Gazan organization that can place where every hostage is.
4. The surviving hostages that have been treated the worst are likely to be killed rather than released or traded.
5. Israel, uncharacteristically, seems to be “writing off” the hostages, rather than centering strategy on their release. (Note- Pres. Biden says there are as many as six U.S. citizens held hostage). I think this is a surprise to Hamas and its Iranian sponsors. This means Israel feels no urgency to get the Gazan invasion over with quickly.