Hamas has said that “almost 50” Israeli hostages held in the Gaza Strip since the October 7 offensive have been killed in Israeli bombing raids on the Palestinian enclave, AFP reports.

“(Ezzedine) Al-Qassam Brigades estimates that the number of Zionist prisoners who were killed in the Gaza Strip as a result of Zionist strikes and massacres has reached almost 50,” the group said in a statement issued on its Telegram channel.