A CNN review of the circumstances of the 40 hostages’ deaths found that at least 24 – more than half – can be traced back to Israeli military actions, including Israeli strikes and ground maneuvers that led to captors killing their hostages.

A few hours after the October 7 attack began, Netanyahu declared unequivocally, “We are at war.” That evening, his cabinet set its main goal – destroying the military and governing capabilities of Hamas and Islamic Jihad. The ensuing three years of war killed more than 74,000 Palestinians in Gaza, according to the health ministry there.

Bringing back the hostages was not part of the original war aims, two Israeli officials said. About a week later, as the scope of abductions became clear, the cabinet added another goal: creating the conditions for their return.