Hostages in Gaza

Yarden Bibas:

'I'm sorry I didn't manage to save you'

Funeral for Ariel, Kfir, and Shiri Bibas leaves Rishon Lezion for Nir Oz cemetery; thousands stand along the roadsides, waving Israeli flags and paying last respects.

Watch: Daniella Gilboa sings 'Shalom Aleichem' in Arabic

Released hostage Daniella Gilboa shares that due to concerns of being overheard, she and the other IDF lookouts taught themselves to sing the traditional 'Shalom Aleichem' in Arabic. Watch.

Watch:

Knesset holds minute of silence in memory of Shiri, Ariel, Kfir

Chairman of the National Security Committee MK Bismuth opened this morning's session with a minute of silence in memory of the Bibas family.

Ahead of Bibas funerals:

Knesset building lit up in orange

Knesset building lit up in orange; Speaker Amir Ohana will open the Knesset plenum session with a minute of silence.

Danon:

'Hamas has no place in Gaza's future'

Israel's UN Ambassador tells UN Security Council rescued hostage 'would not have to be here today if the international community and this Council had acted against Hamas instead of looking away and remaining silent.'

Hostages families:

'Time is not on hostages' side, Trump created opportunity'

The families of hostages who are still being held in Gaza delivered a statement calling for the implementation of phase 2 of the ceasefire so that their loved ones can be freed.

Noa Argamani to UNSC:

'The hostages feel abandoned by the world'

Noa Argamani, who was rescued from captivity in Gaza in June, becomes the first former Hamas hostage to address the UN Security Council.

Hostage's brother:

Bar is alive, we pray and are doing all we can to bring him home

Dvir, brother of hostage Bar Kupershtein, speaks with Arutz Sheva: 'I'm happy that many hostages have come home. It gives us hope that Bar will come back.'

Watch:

Murdered hostage Oded Lifshitz is laid to rest

Oded Lifshitz, who was murdered in Hamas captivity, is laid to rest.

Omer Shem Tov:

'Creator of the world, thanks for being with me at every moment'

Released hostage Omer Shem Tov published a post on social media thanking the soldiers, the people of Israel, and G-d. 'I felt your prayers, and even in the darkness I had light.'

Released Hostage:

'I was sure that I was the last one'

Agam Berger, captured from the Nahal Oz base during the October 7th massacre, shares details of her 482-day captivity.

To free more hostages:

Israel seeks 42-day extension of deal

Israel wishes to extend the first phase of the hostage deal, during which additional hostages would be released.

Egyptian sources:

'Trump is not interested in resuming fighting in Gaza'

Egyptian sources tell Al-Araby Al-Jadeed newspaper that Trump is working to complete a deal to return all the hostages, and he has no interest in resuming the fighting.

Ben Gvir:

'Channel 13 News granted legitimacy to Hamas' atrocities'

After Channel 13 News claims that a statement by Ben Gvir led to a deterioration in the conditions of hostages in Gaza, the MK fires back.

We'll walk together on kibbutz paths:

Sagui Dekel Chen invites Prime Minister to Nir Oz

PM Netanyahu speaks with released hostage, Sagui Dekel Chen, who invited him to visit Kibbutz Nir Oz: 'We have different opinions, but I always believed that your considerations were professional.'

Report:

Hamas may send bodies of 2 hostages to Egypt for 300 terrorists

Hamas reportedly proposes way to avoid the usual dehumanization ceremonies staged at every previous hostage release in exchange for the release of half of the terrorists whose release was delayed on Saturday.

Minister Orit Strock:

'Winning the war or releasing all hostages?'

Minister of Settlements and National Missions, Orit Strock, at Jerusalem Conference: 'Defeating Hamas in Gaza is no less a strategic goal than the Iranian nuclear threat.'

Human Rights Expert:

'Guterres, Turk have blood of Kfir & Ariel on their hands'

Professor Anne Bayefsky, the Director of the Touro Institute on Human Rights and the Holocaust and President of the Human Rights Voices organization tells Arutz Sheva UN leaders 'turned Jewish babies into bargaining chips.'

With dozens of Ambs:

Bibas family, Oded Lifshitz, honored at ceremony held at the UN

Israel's Ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, said at the ceremony: "The brutal murder of the Bibas family by Hamas will forever be a scar in the soul of the Jewish people. This should be a scar in the soul of the whole world."

Bibas family asks the public: 'Don't publicize agonizing details'

Bibas family's lawyer Dana Pugach makes public appeal to refrain from publishing details about the horrific murder of Shiri, Ariel and Kfir without the family's permission.

Freed hostage returns home:

'My home is broken like my heart'

3 weeks after he was freed, Keith Siegel returns to his home in Kfar Aza, from which he was kidnapped on October 7, 2023. 'A flood of traumatic and painful memories that will forever remain etched in my body and mind.'

Arrested hospital director admits hostages were kept at hospital

Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, the director of the Kamal Adwan Hospital who was arrested and accused of being a Hamas colonel, does not deny that hostages were held at his hospital.

Report: Hamas may release two deceased hostages Mon. evening

Saudi newspaper reports progress in negotiations to solve crisis; two bodies of murdered hostages may be released in exchange for the over 600 terrorists whose release was delayed.

Omer Wenkert:

Two of my brothers stayed behind, I will make sure they come home

Released hostage Omer Wenkert says he will fight for the release of the remaining hostages in Gaza.

Due to fear of rescue:

Terrorists chained Eliya Cohen to other hostages

Sigi Cohen, mother of released hostage Eliya Cohen, tells of her son's time in captivity.

Individual vs. National halakhic issues:

The halakhic view on continuing to Phase II of a hostage deal

The halakha calls for the total destruction of Gaza and its cities, and for attempting to rescue the hostages in battle.

With Israeli flags lining the road:

This is what Shiri, Ariel, and Kfir's funeral will look like

As per the family's request, the funeral will be limited to invitees only, but the public may honor the memory of Shiri and her sons Ariel and Kfir, accompanying the funeral procession by holding Israeli flags along the roadside.

Israel forces Hamas to fold

Hamas spokesman in Gaza says terror group willing to agree to proposal to free hostages in order to end crisis and free terrorists.

Senior Hamas member:

'Ceasefire talks conditioned on release of prisoners'

Hamas official Basem Naim tells Reuters that talks with Israel about the next steps of the ceasefire agreement are contingent on the release of terrorist prisoners as previously agreed.

Prayers and Kiddush during Eliya Cohen’s time in captivity

Sigi Cohen, mother of Eliya who was freed from Hamas captivity, speaks about his observance of mitzvot while in captivity.

500 Days in Hell:

Thousands rally with hostage families in Central Park

Thousands rally with hostage family members and captivity survivors in Central Park, demanding immediate action: “Phase 2 of the deal must move forward — we cannot leave anyone behind.”

The real reason why Omer Shem Tov kissed his captors

Video shows Hamas terrorists forcing Omer to kiss the terrorists' foreheads.

Omer's mother to Trump:

'Mr. President, you did it, but the mission is not yet complete'

The families of captivity survivors Omer Shem Tov, Omer Wenkert, Eliya Cohen, and Tal Shoham, addressed the press after their loved ones' release.

Avera's brother:

'Hearts filled with gratitude to the Creator for the miracle'

The families of captivity survivors Avera Mengistu and Hisham al-Sayed addressed the media, Sha'aban al-Sayed attacked Hamas: 'We saw Hamas making spins and cheap politics on the back of a mentally ill person.'

Ofri Bibas:

'Our family journey has ended in the most devastating way'

'We are suffering indescribable pain,' says Ofri Bibas, sister of Yarden, who learned of his wife and sons' murder after his release from Hamas captivity.

Bibas family:

'Thank you for the love, embrace, and tears'

'Warm embrace, love and strength that you have sent us from all over Israel and the world strengthen us and accompany us during these moments of crisis,' say family members of Shiri, Ariel and Kfir.

Hostage's grandfather:

'When I recited Havdalah - something inside me broke'

Aharon Rabi, the grandfather of Eliya Cohen, who returned from Hamas captivity after over 500 days, recited the Havdalah prayer and shared the emotional reunion with his grandson, the hardships he went through in captivity, and his strengthened faith.

Released hostage's father:

Despite horrors of captivity, Sagui’s resilience shines through

'Pain and sorrow are there, but they cannot overshadow the beauty of this moment; seeing him with his three little girls,' says father of released hostage, Sagui Dekel Chen.

'I met Yotam in the tunnels'

Released hostage writes to mother of killed hostage

Iris Haim speaks about the letter released hostage Karina Ariev sent her, 'Yotam's words kept me going during captivity.'

Omer Wenkert's gift from the Gaza 'duty-free'

Niva Wenkert shared a moving and funny story about the moment she reunited with her son after his release from Hamas captivity. 'Mom, I brought you something from the duty-free.'

Freed hostage's brother:

'Hostages wouldn't have been freed without fight against Hamas'

Itay Dekel-Chen, the brother of Sagui Dekel-Chen, thanks the religious Zionist community for their support of the families of the hostages over the last 16 months.

Omer Shem Tov began keeping Shabbat in captivity

Omer's parents say he grew stronger during the 505 days he was held hostage by Hamas despite losing dozens of pounds in weight from malnutrition.

Trump at CPAC:

'The hostages are coming back in pretty bad shape'

US President comments on hostage deal during speech at Conservative Political Action Conference. “October 7th would have never happened if I was president. Biden got none of the hostages back and would have never gotten any of them back."

Freed hostage:

'May the memory of every soldier be a blessing'

Eliya Cohen, who was freed from Hamas captivity on Saturday, writes in a post on Instagram: Every prayer of yours was felt in my heart and soul and strengthened me anew at every moment.

Until humiliating ceremonies stop

Israel delays release of terrorists

Prime Minister's Office announces that it has been decided to delay the release of the terrorists due to the humiliating ceremonies held by Hamas. Terrorists who were set to be released were returned to their prison cells.

Cruelty and evil:

Hamas brought two additional hostages to release point

Hamas publishes video clip showing hostages Guy Gilboa-Dalal, Evyatar David, sitting in a car while forced to watch their friends' 'release ceremony.'

Education Min.: Give Hamas an ultimatum - hostages now, or war

Education Minister Yoav Kisch tells Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to give Hamas an ultimatum: All hostages back in Israel by Saturday - or hellfire on Gaza.

Returning from captivity:

Eliya discovers that his girlfriend is alive

Eliya Cohen, released from Hamas captivity after 505 days, thought his girlfriend Ziv had been killed in the 'bomb shelter of death.' Prior to the massacre, he had bought a ring - but did not manage to propose before he was kidnapped.

Starved and abused:

Testimonies from Omer, Tal, Omer, and Eliya

Tal Shoham and Omer Wenkert were held together for most of their time in Hamas captivity; Eliya Cohen was kept in complete darkness formost of the time; Omer Shem Tov lost 17 kilograms.

Sign of life received from hostage Guy Gilboa-Dalal

Father of hostage Guy Gilboa-Dalal says family received 'sign of life' from one of the six hostages who returned to Israel earlier on Saturday.

After nearly a decade: Hisham al-Sayed reunites with his family

Hisham al-Sayed, released from Hamas captivity after nearly a decade in Gaza, meets his father Shaaban and brother Wasim at the initial reception point in Israel, and additional family members at the hospital.

'How good is G-d!'

Moving 'havdalah' ceremony with returned hostages

Omer Shem Tov, Eliya Cohen, and Omer Wenkert attend 'havdalah' ceremony marking the conclusion of Shabbat at Beilinson Hospital. Watch.

'Thank you to everyone who prayed': Yarden Bibas' moving post

One day after his wife Shiri's remains were returned to Israel, Yarden Bibas thanks those who supported and cared for his family.

Netanyahu on Bibas murders: 'We shall neither forgive nor forget'

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says heart 'bursts with excitement' at return of six living hostages from Hamas captivity, Israel will 'neither forgive nor forget' brutal murders of Shiri Bibas and her young sons Ariel and Kfir.

Dr. Chen Kugel:

'We have witnessed unimaginable depths of cruelty and evil'

Dr. Chen Kugel, head of the Abu Kabir forensic institute, says there is 'no evidence' that Shiri Bibas was killed in a bombing, proving Hamas' earlier claims were lies.

Due to Bibas family's murder:

Israel delays release of 602 terrorists

Israel announces that it will delay the 602 terrorists due to be released in exchange for six living hostages; terrorists' families informed that the release will take place around 8:00 p.m.

Watch:

After over a decade, Avera Mengistu reunites with his family

Avera Mengistu, held captive in Gaza since September 2014, reunites with his family at the initial reception point in Israel and at Ichilov Hospital.

With praise to G-d:

Moving: Omer Wenkert reunites with his parents in Israel

Omer Wenkert meets his parents Niva and Shai at the initial reception point in Israel. Watch.

'That's it, don't cry anymore'

Eliya Cohen's moving reunion with his parents

Watch Eliya Cohen's moving reunion with his parents, Sigalit and Maimon, and his partner Ziv.

Omer Shem Tov returns to his family:

'That's it, we're together, it's over'

Watch Omer Shem Tov's emotional meeting with his family, as they reunite at Beilinson Hospital.