when did hamas take hostages

Hamas took hostages on 7 October 2023, during its large-scale attack on southern Israel that launched the current Gaza war.

What happened on that date

• On 7 October 2023, Hamas-led militants crossed from Gaza into southern Israel in coordinated assaults on multiple communities and a music festival.

• During these attacks, they abducted civilians and soldiers and took them back into Gaza as hostages; estimates put the initial number at roughly 240–250 people, including Israelis and foreign nationals.

Why this date matters

• The hostage-taking on 7 October 2023 became a central driver of the ensuing war in Gaza, shaping Israeli military goals and international diplomacy.

• Since then, some hostages have been released in prisoner exchanges or rescued in raids, while others have been confirmed killed, and a number are still reported missing or held.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.