A woman walks past the portraits of Israeli captives displayed on a tent at the main gathering place for families of hostages held in the Gaza Strip since the October 7, 2023 attacks by Hamas militants, in Tel Aviv. AFP
"The families have been informed of the situation of their relatives," Mencer told reporters, without providing the names of the deceased.
That means that of the 26 captives yet to be freed under the first phase of the agreement, only 18 are still alive.
The truce deal, announced earlier in January after months of fruitless negotiations, took effect on 19 January, bringing to a halt more than 15 months of the Israeli war on Gaza .
Under the first phase of the agreement, 33 captives held by militants in Gaza are to be released in exchange for more than 1,900 Palestinians held by Israel.
Seven Israeli women have been released since the start of the truce, as have 290 Palestinian prisoners.
Short link: