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hostages

News and updates about hostages

Freed hostage recalls:

'They treated us like we were dogs, not human beings'

Louis Har, who was freed by the IDF along with Fernando Simon Marman last month, recalls the ordeal in an interview with the Daily Mail: They told us we had nowhere to return to.

'They treated us like we were dogs, not human beings'

Hostage Uriel Baruch murdered in captivity

IDF confirms Hamas murdered 32-year-old hostage kidnapped from Nova music festival and continues to hold his body.

Hostage Uriel Baruch murdered in captivity

'Alive or dead'

Herzog: We must get to Sinwar to free the hostages

'We must get to Sinwar - either alive or dead - so that we can see the hostages back home,' Israel's Pres. Herzog says.

Herzog: We must get to Sinwar to free the hostages

Hamas' ultimate goal:

A forced ceasefire, without a hostage deal

UN Security Council resolution 'will isolate the State of Israel even more,' Israel's response to prisoner swap proposal 'does not answer any of the basic demands,' Hamas officials say.

A forced ceasefire, without a hostage deal

Hamas rejects new proposal for hostage release deal

Hamas claims that "Israel did not respond to any basic demand" and therefore it was decided to reject the proposal put forward by the mediators last week.

Hamas rejects new proposal for hostage release deal

New York:

Protesters in Central Park call for hostages' release

Demonstrators wear Batman masks and black capes, in honor of four-year-old Ariel Bibas and his baby brother Kfir, who were kidnapped on October 7.

Protesters in Central Park call for hostages' release

Israeli official claims:

700 terrorists in exchange for 40 hostages

Israeli official says Israel agreed to release 100 terrorists serving life sentences in exchange for less than one-third of the hostages still in Gaza.

700 terrorists in exchange for 40 hostages

Hamas source claims negotiations for ceasefire collapsed

'Hamas position is stable, and it will never agree to accept the agreement Tel Aviv has put forward in a surrender deal,' source says.

Hamas source claims negotiations for ceasefire collapsed

Report:

Israel demanding return of Hadar Goldin, Oron Shaul

Israel seeking return of bodies of soldiers murdered and kidnapped 10 years ago, rejects Hamas demand 30 terrorists be freed for every freed female soldier.

Israel demanding return of Hadar Goldin, Oron Shaul

Psychological terror:

Hamas claims hostage has died

Hamas spokesman claims one of the hostages died as a result of a lack of medicine and food. In accordance with the family's request, we refrain from publishing his name.

Hamas claims hostage has died

Former Minister:

'We hope our fallen son supports a deal'

Former Minister Izhar Shay asked permission this evening from his son, killed in action on October 7th, to support a prisoner exchange deal.

'We hope our fallen son supports a deal'

Israel clarifies: No breakthrough on prisoner swap

Israeli delegation agrees to US-proposed compromise on ratio of terrorists to hostages to be released in prisoner swap.

Israel clarifies: No breakthrough on prisoner swap

At rally for hostages' release, rabbi reads Purim megilla

Tens of thousands attend rally for hostages' release, hear Purim megilla. 'History is repeating itself, and it is in our hands to save our brothers and sisters.'

At rally for hostages' release, rabbi reads Purim megilla

Rally for hostages: 'They won't return without a deal'

Released hostages Adina Moshe speaks at rally for hostages' release, claims PM Netanyahu 'abandoned' her.

Rally for hostages: 'They won't return without a deal'

New details emerge on potential hostage swap

Israel agreed to allow residents of northern Gaza to return home as part of prisoner swap deal, report claims.

New details emerge on potential hostage swap

Hostages' relatives to Biden:

'Push all parties to agree to the deal'

Relatives of 81 hostages being held by Hamas send letter to US President, urge him to press Netanyahu and all other parties to reach an agreement to secure the release of their relatives.

'Push all parties to agree to the deal'

Blinken:

'Hostage release deal is very much possible'

Secretary of State optimistic that deal is close: If Hamas cares about the people it purports to represent, then it would reach an agreement.

'Hostage release deal is very much possible'

Bereaved mother to protester:

'My son is kidnapped, and you're using his photo'

Ayelet Samerano, whose son Yonatan's body is held in Gaza, tells left-wing protesters, 'You don't care if they come back you want to bring down the government.'

'My son is kidnapped, and you're using his photo'

Ben Gvir, Smotrich announced:

'If murderers are released, we'll leave the gov't'

TV report: Finance Minister and National Security Minister said in closed conversations that they would leave the government if terrorist murderers were to be released.

'If murderers are released, we'll leave the gov't'

Video showing kidnapping of IDF soldier located

IDF finds video of the kidnapping of soldier Oz Daniel. Hamas edited the video so that it would appear that Daniel was kidnapped while he was still alive.

Video showing kidnapping of IDF soldier located

Report:

Sinwar now managing hostage deal negotiations

Hamas leaders abroad have no authority to make decisions, 'every comma, every period, will take 24-36 hours,' source says.

Sinwar now managing hostage deal negotiations

Former Minister:

'Release my son's murderer for hostages'

Former Minister Izhar Shay says he would be happy to watch the execution of the terrorist who murdered his son on October 7, but would prefer that he be released in exchange for hostages.

'Release my son's murderer for hostages'

Cabinet approves:

Mandate for Israeli negotiating team

Political-Security Cabinet meeting concludes after more than three hours. Cabinet approves departure of Israeli delegation to Doha for talks on hostage release deal.

Mandate for Israeli negotiating team

Blinken, Bahrain Crown Prince discuss hostage deal

US Secretary of State meets Bahraini Crown Prince in Manama to discuss potential ceasefire-hostage release deal between Israel and Hamas.

Blinken, Bahrain Crown Prince discuss hostage deal

Hostage release deal:

Hamas submits response, Cabinet to convene

The Cabinet will meet on Friday afternoon and discuss Hamas' response to the deal. Prime Minister’s Office: Hamas continues making preposterous demands.

Hamas submits response, Cabinet to convene

Sarkozy to hostages' families:

'Silence is a death sentence for the hostages'

Families of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza meet former French President Nicolas Sarkozy at his residence in Paris.

'Silence is a death sentence for the hostages'

Freed hostage:

'Nurses at Gaza hospital were cheering'

Judith Raanan, who was kidnapped together with her daughter on October 7 and freed 13 days later, shares her experience in TV interview.

'Nurses at Gaza hospital were cheering'

Former hostage:

'Hamas spat on, slapped me during surgery'

Itay Regev, who was freed from Hamas captivity in November, describes to the BBC how horrific his treatment was, including being forced to undergo surgery to remove a bullet without painkillers.

'Hamas spat on, slapped me during surgery'

CIA director:

'A ceasefire and hostage deal is critical'

CIA director William Burns tells Senators the parties are trying to broker a deal for a six-week ceasefire that would allow for the release of 40 hostages as well as Palestinian Arab prisoners being held in Israel.

'A ceasefire and hostage deal is critical'

Calls for release of hostages

PM's wife writes to Emir of Qatar's mother

Sara Netanyahu sends personal letter to the Emir of Qatar's mother on the occasion of Ramadan and for the release of the hostages being held by Hamas in Gaza.

PM's wife writes to Emir of Qatar's mother

Erdan on UN chief:

'He cares more about terrorists than about hostages'

Israel’s Ambassador to the UN slams UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres who called Israel’s war against Hamas a “catastrophic onslaught” against Gaza.

'He cares more about terrorists than about hostages'

Families of hostages:

'Sexual violations by Hamas are an ongoing crime'

Released hostages and families leave for UN Security Council session on the UN sexual violence report.

'Sexual violations by Hamas are an ongoing crime'

Report:

CIA chief held secret Cairo meeting last week

CIA chief William Burns paid secret visit to Cairo before meeting with Mossad chief David Barnea, report says.

CIA chief held secret Cairo meeting last week

Hostages' families:

'Stop negotiations, enter Rafah now'

Tikva Forum, an organization representing families of hostages, says Hamas toying with Israel and the loved ones of the hostages in the negotiations.

'Stop negotiations, enter Rafah now'

Released hostage at rally:

Those in captivity are still experiencing horrors

Massive rally demands return of hostages: '19 women held hostage by Hamas - Women's Day 2024.'

Those in captivity are still experiencing horrors

Psychological terrorism:

Hamas claims seven hostages killed by Israeli fire

The communications officers accompanying the families of the hostages claim that there is no evidence to support Hamas' story.

Hamas claims seven hostages killed by Israeli fire

Mossad:

'Hamas uninterested in deal, aims to ignite region'

Mossad chief David Barnea meets CIA chief William Burns, in attempt to advance prisoner swap deal, free hostages.

'Hamas uninterested in deal, aims to ignite region'

Arab report claims:

Prisoner swap negotiations stalled because of Israel

Negotiations for prisoner swap stalled after Israel insisted on hostage release happening first, Arab report claims.

Prisoner swap negotiations stalled because of Israel

Hamas' new demand:

Release Arab-Israeli terrorists

Hamas demanding that Israel will not have the power to veto release of terrorists with Israeli citizenship as part of a hostage release deal.

Release Arab-Israeli terrorists

Report:

Hamas won't compromise on archterrorist's release

Jordanian news outlet says Hamas won't compromise on Marwan Barghouti's release, complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.

Hamas won't compromise on archterrorist's release

Blinken to Gantz:

'Humanitarian plan needed before operation in Rafah'

Minister Benny Gantz meets US Secretary of State in Washington. State Department: The Secretary underscored the importance of reaching an agreement to achieve the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas.

'Humanitarian plan needed before operation in Rafah'

Biden:

'Hostage deal is in Hamas' hands'

US President says Israel has been 'cooperating,' agreed to 'rational' ceasefire deal, it will be seen in the next few days if Hamas agrees to this deal.

'Hostage deal is in Hamas' hands'

Hamas official claims:

'We don't know how many hostages are alive'

Amid talks on a hostage release deal, senior Hamas leader Bassem Naim claims a ceasefire is needed in order for Hamas to verify how many hostages are still alive.

'We don't know how many hostages are alive'

Biden:

'I will not let up on a hostage release deal'

US President pledges to continue pushing for six-week ceasefire during which Hamas would release the hostages it is holding.

'I will not let up on a hostage release deal'

Spine-chilling recording:

'Help, hostages. We’re under the stairs'

Kan News reveals recording from the scene where hostages were hiding. They begged for help after their captors were killed by IDF fire. Hostage families: 'IDF leaking this, terrorizing us psychologically, like Hamas.'

'Help, hostages. We’re under the stairs'

Source:

Sinwar prefers condemnation of Israel over Gazans

Hamas decided not to provide any details on two central issues: an updated list of hostages, and the number of terrorists to be released in any prisoner swap deal, source says.

Sinwar prefers condemnation of Israel over Gazans

Negotiations crisis:

Israel won't send delegation to Cairo

Representatives of Qatar, the US, and the Hamas terror group arrive in Cairo to negotiate a prisoner swap; following Hamas' partial response, Israel announces that it will not send a representative to the talks.

Israel won't send delegation to Cairo

US official on hostage deal: Ball is in Hamas' court

Israel has agreed to hostage deal, progress on deal and ceasefire now depend on Hamas' agreement, US official says.

US official on hostage deal: Ball is in Hamas' court

Moving: Mothers of hostages rally in unity

Ditza Or, mother of Avinatan, and Meirav Leshem Gonen, mother of Romi, go on stage together at Families Forum event in Jerusalem: 'We're united for them.' Watch.

Moving: Mothers of hostages rally in unity

Report:

Israel demanding list of hostages still alive

Israel tells Qatar and Egypt there will be no more talks on hostage release deal, until Hamas provides a list of hostages who are still alive.

Israel demanding list of hostages still alive

Defense Min. to Lloyd Austin:

Israel won't tolerate threats against its citizens

Defense Min. Gallant briefs US Defense Sec. Austin on progress of Israel-Hamas war, importance of international pressure in securing hostages' freedom.

Israel won't tolerate threats against its citizens

Former Amb. Friedman:

'Biden committed negotiating malpractice'

Former ambassador David Friedman denounced US President Joe Biden's ice cream shop talk about the hostage negotiations.

'Biden committed negotiating malpractice'

Hostage deals - a rabbinic perspective

Interview with Rav Dr. Ido Rechnitz, co author of Jewish Military Ethics. A Rabbinic perspective on our painful, national moral dilemma of ‘freeing hostages versus a winning a military offensive.

Hostage deals - a rabbinic perspective

Father of freed 9-year-old:

'If we don't finish the job, it'll happen again'

Thomas Hand, father of nine-year-old Emily who was freed from Hamas captivity after 50 days, says Israel must “finish the job” against Hamas.

'If we don't finish the job, it'll happen again'

Report:

US deal would free 40 hostages for 400 terrorists

Leaked document from Paris talks shows proposal in which Israel would free 10 terrorists for each hostage freed from Hamas' clutches, 90 hostages would remain in captivity.

US deal would free 40 hostages for 400 terrorists

Report: Hamas examining proposed prisoner swap deal

Second stage of hostage deal to be negotiated separately from first stage; first stage to see release of just 40 hostages.

Report: Hamas examining proposed prisoner swap deal

Lapid:

We'll provide a security net for a hostage deal

Opposition leader MK Yair Lapid says Yesh Atid won't join emergency government, but may provide government with security net for hostage deal - under certain conditions.

We'll provide a security net for a hostage deal

Watch:

Biden eats ice cream while discussing hostages

US Pres. Biden is asked about hostage deal - while eating ice cream. 'National Security Adviser tells me that we're close.'

Biden eats ice cream while discussing hostages

MK Edelstein:

'Yellow badge in the Knesset crosses a red line'

Chairman of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee on his decision not to allow the brother of a hostage to speak after wearing a yellow badge: I oppose the comparison between October 7 and the Holocaust.

'Yellow badge in the Knesset crosses a red line'

Biden:

'I hope for a ceasefire by next Monday'

US President speaks to reporters in New York: My national security adviser tells me that they’re close. My hope is by next Monday we’ll have a ceasefire.

'I hope for a ceasefire by next Monday'