hostages

Ritchie Torres vows 'fierce urgency' to free hostages

Congressman Torres visits Hostages Families Forum in Tel Aviv during UJA-Federation of New York delegation to Israel, praises courage of hostages' families.

Israeli MLB coach shows solidarity with hostages

Alon Leichman, who serves as assistant pitching coach for the Cincinnati Reds, features glove with the words "Bring Them Home Now!" stitched on the outside.

Smotrich:

'The only person responsible for hostages' plight is Sinwar'

Finance Minister responds to calls for govt. to be more flexible in hostage talks and blame laid at PM for lack of a deal, says such calls and pressure make Hamas harden its positions.

Analyst:

Protest against Netanyahu is not in the name of all families

In the Hebrew sentence, 'The hostages' families demand Netanyahu resign,' one of the letters is extra - and makes all the difference, analyst Amit Segal says.

Report:

Israel agrees to swap terrorists for soldiers' bodies

Sources say Israel agreed to release re-arrested 'Shalit deal' terrorists in exchange for the bodies of IDF soldiers Hadar Goldin and Oron Shaul, who fell in 2014's Operation Protective Edge.

Families of hostages:

Netanyahu is blocking prisoner exchange agreement

Some of the families of the hostages have declared that Netanyahu is intentionally preventing a prisoner exchange deal and so they will work to replace him.

Hostage's mother calls on Israelis to demand 'a deal now!'

'Israeli society needs a victory, Israeli society needs a victory in which our light overcomes the darkness,' Shira Elbag, mother of hostage Liri Elbag, says at rally.

Released hostage: 19 women are being raped in Gaza

Aviva Siegel, wife of hostage Keith Siegel, says 'only hostages matter,' tells Israeli government 'do not dare' to bring delegation back from Qatar without a prisoner swap deal.

Released hostage: 'Hostages have no time, no air and no light'

Raz Ben Ami, released from Hamas captivity, urges Prime Minister to push for a deal at any price. 'Tell the negotiating team not to return without a deal.'

Parents of kidnapped soldiers:

'Netanyahu didn't tell us anything new'

Parents of kidnapped soldiers after their first meeting with the Prime Minister: Netanyahu is preoccupied with military security - not with civil security.

Murdered hostage's family:

'We won't have a funeral until his body is returned'

Dan Anteby, the father-in-law of Uriel Baruch, tells Arutz Sheva about the family's experience through months of uncertainty until they learned this week that he was killed.

PM to hostages' families:

'I won't leave anyone behind'

Netanyahu meets families of soldiers held hostage by Hamas, says he is " committed to returning everyone, all of them."

'Free the girls first'

Brother of kidnapped soldier sends message to Belgian FM

Salem Alatrash, brother of kidnapped soldier Mohammed Alatrash, meets Belgian Foreign Min., urges her to push for hostages' release.

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.

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.

'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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.'

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.'

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.'

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.'

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.

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.