Ted Budd, Senator of North Carolina, expressed his condolences for the families of hostages killed in Gaza and urged continued pressure on Hamas to ensure the release of all captives. This statement was made on the social media platform X.
“Today, the Israel Defense Forces retrieved the bodies of two hostages held by Hamas in Gaza since October 7, 2023,” said Budd. “I am praying for the families as they continue to grieve the death of their loved ones. Forty-eight hostages remain in Gaza, including two Americans. We must continue to exert all forms of pressure on Hamas leadership until they release every hostage in Gaza—both living and deceased.”
Since the attacks by Hamas on October 7, 2023, a total of 251 individuals were abducted to Gaza. The Washington Post reports that there have been waves of releases throughout late 2023 and a cease-fire was established in early 2025. Israel has confirmed that dozens of hostages were killed, while others were freed through negotiated swaps. As of September 2, 2025, 22 people remain hostage and 83 have been confirmed dead.
Currently, there are still 22 hostages in Gaza, comprising 21 Israelis and one Nepali national. Israeli officials said in July 2025 that they believe 20 of these individuals are alive, although confirmation is ongoing. This situation highlights the ongoing humanitarian and diplomatic crisis.
International mediation efforts by the United States, Qatar, and Egypt led to a cease-fire in January 2025 that resulted in the release of 33 Israeli hostages in exchange for approximately 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. This agreement also paused fighting and opened channels for further negotiations. Talks regarding phased exchanges and longer truces continue under these mediators.
Budd is a Republican from North Carolina who has served in the U.S. Senate since 2023. He is a member of the Armed Services, Intelligence, and Commerce committees, which aligns his work with defense and foreign policy matters. Prior to his Senate role, he served three terms in the U.S. House from 2017 to 2023 and has experience as a small-business owner.
