Who are the American hostages still being held by Hamas in Gaza?

Nearly a year since Hamas and other militant groups kidnapped at least 251 people from Israel into Gaza, a ceasefire agreement that would be most likely to get them out alive and end the rising death toll among Palestinians remains elusive. Last month's recovery of six hostages, killed by their captors shortly before Israeli soldiers found them, added new urgency to the desperation of families still waiting for their loved ones to return.

“We cannot allow ourselves to have no hope,” said Lee Siegel, the brother of Keith Siegel, an American who has been held in Gaza since he and his wife, Aviva Siegel, were kidnapped on Oct. 7.

Aviva Siegel was among more than 100 hostages released under a temporary ceasefire agreement in November after 52 days in captivity. Lee Siegel, 72, said in a telephone interview Tuesday that he believes a more permanent ceasefire agreement is “the only way to return hostages alive.”

NBC News takes a look at the hostages who remain in Hamas captivity.

How many are still there?

Of the at least 251 people Israeli officials said were taken hostage At least 154 were released by Hamas, rescued by Israeli forces, recovered dead or killed in clashes.

The majority of released hostages – 105 — were released during a brief temporary ceasefire in November in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.

At least eight people are known to have been rescued alive in IDF operations, including one in June when Noa Argamani, 26, whose story became widely known after video of her capture went viral on social media, was rescued along with three others became.

In December, three hostages – Alon Shamriz, Yotam Haim and Samer Talalka – were shot dead by Israeli soldiers who said they mistook them for combatants even though they were holding a white flag. More hostages have been found dead, including the six Hamas hostages killed last month. Among them was 23-year-old Israeli-American Hersh Goldberg-Polin.

The IDF said on Sunday that three other Israeli hostages – Nik Beizer, 19, Ron Sherman, 19, and Elia Toledano, 28 – whose bodies were found in underground tunnels in Gaza last year were also most likely in an Israeli military airstrike a Hamas commander was killed.

According to Israeli officials, as of Monday, at least 97 people taken hostage on October 7 are still believed to be in the Gaza Strip, with about a third of them, or at least 33 people, believed to be dead.

Hamas also holds two hostages, one captured in 2014 and the other in 2015, as well as the bodies of two killed Israeli soldiers. The inclusion of these four brings the number to 101 people, 35 of whom are presumed dead.

According to Israeli officials, the Hamas-led attack on October 7 killed 1,200 people, including hundreds of IDF soldiers.

According to local health authorities, more than 41,300 people have been killed in Gaza since Israel began its offensive 11 months ago. Thousands of people are believed to be buried under rubble, suggesting the death toll could be much higher.

Who are the Americans?

At least seven people with American citizenship remain in Hamas captivity, and at least three of them are believed to be dead, according to Israeli officials.

Keith Siegel, 65

Among those believed to be alive is 65-year-old Keith Siegel.

His brother Lee Siegel said the last update he received about his status was a video released in April by Hamas's military wing, the Qassam Brigades, showing Siegel and hostage-held Omri Miran. In the video, Siegel and Miran spoke about not being able to celebrate Passover with their loved ones.

Siegel said he won't “feel reassured until Keith is on his way home.”

Sagui Dekel-Chen, 36

Sagui Dekel-Chen was taken hostage at Kibbutz Nir Oz.

His father, Jonathan Dekel-Chen, said in a telephone interview Tuesday that he believed there was “no other solution” to the release of his son and other hostages outside of a ceasefire agreement.

Following the recent killings of the six hostages in Gaza, Hamas said that the hostage guards had resorted to new orders. Abu Ubaida, a spokesman for the Qassam Brigades, did not provide details of the new orders, but said that using military operations to release hostages instead of a ceasefire agreement would mean that “they will be returned to their families in shrouds.”

Edan Alexander, 20

Edan Alexander, 20, who grew up in New Jersey and volunteered for Israeli military service, was taken hostage from the Gaza envelope on October 7.

“I just hope they bring him home and my soul comes back to me,” his mother, Yael Alexander, said in October.

Omer Neutra, 22

In an interview with NBC's “TODAY” this month, the parents of hostage Omer Neutra, 22, said news of the killing of 23-year-old Hersh Goldberg-Polin was a devastating blow.

Her son was almost the same age as Goldberg-Polin, said Neutra's mother Orna Neutra, and “for this to happen now, it shouldn't have happened.”

Americans whose bodies remain

Itay Chen, 19

Ruby and Hagit Chen have been loudly calling on Israel for months to do everything in its power to reunite them with their son Itay Chen, 19, an IDF soldier who was taken hostage by Hamas on October 7 unite.

In March, the Israeli military informed them that their son had probably been killed on October 7 and taken to Gaza. Since then, the Chens have been campaigning for his body to be returned for a proper burial.

Judith Weinstein, 70, and Gadi Haggai, 73

The couple, Judith Weinstein and Gadi Haggai, both American citizens, were initially believed to have been taken hostage by Hamas, but their status was unclear.

Late last year it was confirmed that both had most likely been killed on October 7 and their bodies are now being held in Gaza. President Joe Biden said at the time: “No family should have to endure such an ordeal.”