Hostages in Gaza

President Herzog:

'No one forgets the hostages for even a moment'

President Herzog emphasizes the nation's unwavering commitment to bringing every hostage home and calls for legislative action to support them and their families.

Over ties to Hamas terror

Hostage families file suit against Columbia protesters

Families of hostages abducted by Hamas on October 7 file lawsuit against Mahmoud Khalil and several student groups, accuse them of "aiding and abetting Hamas' continuing acts of international terrorism".

Hamas video:

Signs of life from hostages Yosef Haim Ohana and Elkana Bohbot

The Hamas terror organization published a video with a sign of life from Yosef Haim Ohana and Elkana Bohbot who were abducted on October 7th, 2023.

Hostage's uncle:

'You are fighting for Ronen Bar instead of for the hostages'

Shimon Or harshly criticizes conduct of Shin Bet chief, claiming that manner of negotiations with Hamas led to abandonment of hostages.

Auburn coach calls for release of American hostage held in Gaza

Auburn University basketball coach Bruce Pearl uses postgame press conference to advocate for the release of Edan Alexander: Israel is our ancestral homeland and it’s under attack. It’s under siege. All it wants to do is live in peace with its neighbors.

Mother of slain hostage:

'Don't set my country on fire'

Iris Haim, the mother of slain hostage Yotam, asked to tone down the public rhetoric: ' Stop it, stop this drift of burning, of breaking, of dismantling.'

Protesters:

'Bibi and Ben-Gvir's personal war'

Demonstrations against the government today saw unusually harsh rhetoric and threats of civil disobedience.

Father of last living US hostage pins hopes on Trump

Adi Alexander, the father of Edan Alexander, tells the AP he is not willing to lay the blame for the failure to reach stage 2 of the hostage deal on the Israeli government.

Fallen soldier's family voices concern over renewed Gaza fighting

The parents of fallen American-Israeli soldier Captain Omer Neutra voiced concerns over Israel’s renewed military operations in Gaza, arguing that airstrikes endanger the remaining hostages rather than securing their return.

Ben-Gvir:

'Bomb Gaza food stores & power lines like a normal country would'

Newly-reinstated National Security Minister says recent events have proven he was right to oppose the January ceasefire deal, Hamas will only release the remaining hostages if its food supply is destroyed.

Captivity survivor: 'I was kidnapped from my bed under gunfire'

Crowds gather in Tel Aviv calling for the release of the 59 hostages still held captive in Gaza.

Mother of Slain Hostage:

'Rioting will not bring back our loved ones'

The mother of hostage Yotam Haim, who was killed by Israeli forces as he tried to escape Hamas, writes to Arutz Sheva to speak about her feelings regarding the protests for the recovery of the hostages.

Hostage Forum families:

'End the war, secure release of hostages'

Dozens of former hostages and over 250 family members of those still held captive call on the Israeli government to immediately end the war in Gaza and renew the effort to bring all hostages home.

Report:

Egypt proposes Gaza hostage deal and Israeli withdrawal plan

Reuters reports that Egypt has put forward a new plan for the release of hostages and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza within a specified timeline. Hamas has yet to respond to the proposal.

Moving:

Singer Ishay Ribo dedicates song to family of hostage Omer Neutra

Singer Ishay Ribo participates in 'Songs for their return' evening in Jerusalem, dedicating song to the family of murdered hostage Omer Neutra, who was killed in the October 7 massacre and whose body was kidnapped to Gaza. Watch.

Eli Sharabi:

'Saying Shema Yisrael in captivity gave me strength'

Hamas captivity survivor Eli Sharabi visits Lubavitcher Rebbe's gravesite, reciting the Kaddish prayer. 'With faith and unity, we can overcome anything.'

European Council urges:

'Immediate ceasefire and hostage release in Gaza'

European Council says it "deplores" both the recent breakdown of the ceasefire in Gaza as well as Hamas' refusal to release hostages, calls for full implementation of the ceasefire.

Sderot Mayor:

'If we don't destroy Hamas now - it will never happen'

Mayor Alon Davidi warns that if Israel does not destroy Hamas and bring home the hostages, the residents of Sderot, the Gaza border communities, and the north will continue to live under fire, as they have for over 20 years.

Eli Sharabi:

'Where was the Red Cross when we needed them? Where was the UN?'

Eli Sharabi testified before the UN Security Council about his time in Hamas captivity and revealed: 'I saw Hamas terrorists carrying boxes with the UN and UNRWA emblems on them into the tunnel.'

Moving video:

Crowd of supporters welcomes Eli Sharabi to the UN

The survivor of Hamas captivity arrived at the UN ahead of a meeting with the security council and was greeted by supporters chanting 'You are not alone.'

Released Hostage:

'Hamas could walk for five days in the tunnels they have left'

Tal Shoham spoke in a recent interview about the massive scale of the remaining Hamas tunnels - which are still being expanded.

Israel expands benefits for released hostages

Defense Ministry, National Security Ministry, coordinator for hostages and missing, promote legislative amendment providing those returned from Hamas captivity with expanded benefits.

Hamas caving?

‘The door is still open to efforts to bridge the gaps’

Senior Hamas official says the terror organization has taken a positive approach toward the Witkoff proposal, provided there is a bridge to the start of the second phase of the ceasefire agreement.

Report:

Israel to threaten to annex land from Gaza if hostages harmed

Israeli media reports Israel to adopt new policy against Hamas based on assumption the threat of the loss of land is considered a more serious threat in Gaza.

Keith Siegel:

President Trump, I know you will not stop your efforts

Released hostages call on PM, mediators and international community to exert maximum pressure on Hamas and all parties to resume talks and secure immediate release of every hostage.

Gallant calls return to fighting in Gaza the 'right move'

Former Defense Minister says only military pressure on Hamas will create the conditions to return the remaining hostages.

Hostages Families Forum:

'Too late for us. But for other hostages, it is not too late.'

Families of deceased hostages: "Unfortunately, it was too late for us. But for other hostages—it is not too late. Their lives can still be saved."

'Just Like Hamas':

Hostages' families denounce Smotrich

Families of hostages confronted the Minister of Finance at a tribute event for security forces. He was unfazed.

Eliya Cohen:

The epileptic seizure that changed my life - & led to my release

Eliya Cohen, kidnapped by Hamas during the October 7 massacre and released in exchange for convicted terrorists, tells of an a epileptic seizure three years ago that changed his life.

Hostage's mother:

'They have a sadist guard, he's in serious condition'

Galia David, mother of hostage Evyatar David, tells of her meeting with released hostage Tal Shoham, who was held together with Evyatar and Guy Gilboa-Dalal. 'I saw how serious his condition is, it shook me, I can't sleep. I can't get the pictures out of my head.'

The blood is on their hands

How can people be this blind, this stupid, this heartless, this culturally suicidal? Opinion.

Eli Sharabi to share captivity story at UN Security Council

Recently release hostage Eli Sharabi to address the United Nations Security Council later this week, recount the harrowing details of his months in captivity under Hamas.

I was a PFLP hostage in Jordan

And I learned that misplaced compassion leads to generation after generation of cruelty toward us. Opinion.

Israeli media star celebrates with released hostages

Media personality Natali Dadon held a Purim party with released hostages and their families.

Purim in Jerusalem:

Captivity survivor Karina Ariev leads parade

The procession was led by survivor of Hamas captivity Karina Ariev, Dani Elgarat, whose brother Itzik was murdered in captivity, Yoav and Sharon Engel, whose son Ofir Engel returned from Hamas captivity, and Shlomi Hajaj, the uncle of hostage Rom Braslavski.

BBC accused of 'puff piece propaganda' for Hamas hostage holders

Critics slam BBC Arabic report claiming Hamas 'shadow unit' in charge of holding Israeli hostages captive treated the hostages well. 'The rot of anti-Jewish hate that festers within BBC Arabic must be rooted out.'

Freed hostage Eliya Cohen visits family of fallen soldier

Hamas captivity survivor Eliya Cohen came with his mother Siggi to the home of the Kauders family in Tzur Hadassah to thank them for the part played by their husband and father, First Sergeant Refael Kauders, for the role he played in Eliya's release.

Netanyahu to negotiating team:

Prepare for talks to release 11 hostages

Following high-level meeting, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu instructs negotiating team to prepare to continue talks for hostages' release.

Watch:

Romi Gonen and Emily Damari honored at Bloomfield Stadium

Emily Damari and Romi Gonen, fans of Maccabi Tel Aviv and Hapoel Haifa, were the honored guests at the match between the two teams this evening.

"You will not execute me like ISIS"

Captivity survivor Tal Shoham: I refused to kneel

Released hostage Tal Shoham tells of severe physical abuse during his time in captivity, but says he vowed to never lose his humanity. 'I am not a victim.'

Freed hostage: 'I sat on the mattress and prayed to G-d'

Captivity survivor Omer Shem Tov in first message to attendees at Hostages Square rally: 'I was alone 450 days, it's a terrible feeling. I came back thanks to you, but the task is not yet complete.'

UN official:

‘Not a shred of evidence’ hostages held in UN facilities

UN humanitarian aid official Tom Fletcher dismisses freed hostage Emily Damari's account that she was held in an UNRWA facility: Hamas may have used the facility but the UN had no control over it at the time.

Shabbat vigil in Tel Aviv

Hostage families call for their immediate release

Families of hostages and hundreds of people hold Shabbat dinner at the Begin Gate of the Kirya. Sister of Matan Angrest: He's alive, but in ten minutes he might no longer be with us.

‘Sick and disgusting’

Rubio blasts Hamas, demands release of all hostages

US Secretary of State blasts Hamas and demands the release of all hostages: What Hamas has done is outrageous and we shouldn't accept it as normal. We're dealing with savages. These are bad people, terrible people, and we need to treat them as such.

Witkoff warns:

'Hamas is making a very poor gamble, time is not on its side'

Trump's envoy to the Middle East says Hamas is making "unrealistic" demands in hostage deal: Hamas is well aware of the deadline and must understand that we will respond accordingly if it passes.

PMO:

'Hamas offer to release 5 hostages just psychological warfare'

Prime Minister's Office accuses Hamas of continuing its refusal of the outline and is not making progress in talks despite claim it will release the 5 American hostages.

Hamas says it agreed to release all American hostages

Hamas terrorist organization says it will release Edan Alexander and the bodies of the four other remaining American citizens held hostage in Gaza.

Omer Shem Tov:

In the tunnels, I felt every prayer you said for me

Hamas captivity survivor Omer Shem Tov attends rally in Herzliya alongside friends and released hostages Maya and Itay Regev. 'Even when I was in the darkest place, I felt a spark of light.'

50-day ceasefire

Steve Witkoff's new proposal for a ceasefire deal

US envoy Steve Witkoff proposes Israel resume humanitarian aid to Hamas, release terrorists, in exchange for the release of several hostages.

Ramallah resident arrested for hacking freed hostage's file

Employee of branch of Jerusalem medical institution claims he hacked the medical file of a hostage who was recently returned to Israel out of 'curiosity.'

Jewish families honor Ariel and Kfir Bibas with Batman costumes

Children in Israel and beyond are dressing as Batman for Purim to honor the slain Bibas brothers.

Report:

Adam Boehler removed from Gaza hostage negotiatons

Sources in the Republican Party say that President Trump's envoy for hostages was removed from handling the issue of the hostages in Gaza after saying that Hamas were 'nice guys'.

'Thank God, I'm here:'

Released hostage's song of praise for being freed

Singers David D'or and Guy Feld hosted released hostage Ohad Ben-Ami to talk about the power of faith that helped him survive in a new and moving song.

Father of Hostage:

Return to fighting in Gaza without endangering soldiers

Tzvika Mor, father of hostage Eitan, tells Arutz Sheva about the sign of life he received from his son and calls for resuming the war.

'Together we'll reverse the lot'

Agam Berger's call ahead of Purim

Captivity survivor Agam Berger calls on the public to attend a Megillah reading at Hostages Square. "Together, we will reverse the lot and bring back our 59 brothers and sisters."

Family of hostage Avinatan Or receives first sign of life

Hostages who returned said that Or his being held in harsh conditions in one of the "refugee" camps in central Gaza.

Eliya Cohen gives thanks:

'Your prayers were felt in the tunnels, they protected me'

Grandfather of former hostage Eliya Cohen holds thanksgiving meal honoring his release from Hamas captivity. 'Down there, we feel every prayer.'

Freed hostage Omer Wenkert:

'I wasn't humiliated, I defeated captivity'

After 505 days in Hamas captivity, spoke for the first time about the massacre on October 7 and the day he returned from captivity.

Chabad 'Campus for Bibas' initiative launched

Chabad on Campus International initiative calls on Jewish students to put on tefillin in honor of the Bibas children who will never grow up to do so themselves and to light Shabbat candles in honor of Shiri Bibas.

Eli Sharabi told hostage's father:

Alon said that he wants to make Kiddush when he returns

Kobi, the father of Israeli hostage Alon Ohel, spoke about the message his son sent through released hostage Eli Sharabi