Hostages in Gaza

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.

Shiri Bibas was murdered in captivity

Shiri Bibas was murdered in the first weeks of the war, together with her children Kfir and Ariel. 'She was beloved by everyone who knew her, but above all, she was a dedicated mother.'

After 505 days in captivity:

Omer, Eliya, Omer, Avera, Tal, and Hisham are back in Israel

Hisham al-Sayed, Omer Wenkert, Eliya Cohen, Avera Mengistu, Tal Shoham, and Omer Shem Tov are back in Israel after being released from Hamas captivity.

Hamas claims:

'We handed the body of Shiri Bibas to the Red Cross'

Red Cross receives coffin from Hamas, which the group claims contains the body of Shiri Bibas. The coffin will be handed over to the IDF and from there will be transferred to the National Institute of Forensic Medicine.

Trump:

'Netanyahu is angry, and he should be'

US President says he would support whatever course of action Netanyahu decides to take following the murder of the Bibas children.

ZOA: 'Hell needs to rain down' on Hamas after Bibas family murder

Zionist Organization of America responds to murders of Bibas family, says, 'Hell needs to rain down on Hamas and PIJ, until they are destroyed and can never, never, ever harm another Jewish or other soul.'

Prime Minister's Office:

Israel received list of hostages to be freed Saturday

Earlier this week, reports said that six hostages were to be freed Saturday as part of the deal with Hamas: Tal Shoham, Omer Shem Tov, Eliya Cohen, Omer Wenkert, Hisham al-Sayed, and Avera Mengistu.

Netanyahu on Bibas murders: Today is a day of indescribable pain

'I vow that I will not rest until the savages who executed our hostages are brought to justice,' Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promises.

Hamas confirms it did not give Israel Shiri Bibas' body

'Remains were mixed with other bodies due to IDF airstrikes,' Hamas terror group claims.

Agam found Rabbi Druckman's book in Gaza

After she read Rabbi Haim Druckman's book, Agam Berger understood that she was permitted to eat non-kosher meat if it is a matter of life and death.

Sharren Haskel:

Switching Shiri's body is a crime against humanity

Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel responds to Hamas' presentation of an anonymous body as that of Shiri Bibas, says Hamas is 'a death cult that needs to be eradicated from the face of the Earth.'

US envoy:

Hamas can return everyone - or face 'total annihilation'

United States Envoy for Hostages Adam Boehler responds harshly to Hamas' decision to return an anonymous body instead of that of hostages Shiri Bibas, warns, 'they're going to face total annihilation right now' if they don't release hostages.

October 7 and February 20:

Liberals, the coffins gave you a second chance you do not deserve

Four dead Jews and nine million living ones, through the gross humiliation they suffered at this corpse parade, have given you a second chance. Will you take it and save the West? Opinion.

American Jewish Committee:

'Hamas must be held fully accountable for their actions'

American Jewish Committee condemns Hamas after it was revealed that Kfir and Ariel Bibas were murdered while in captivity and the body of their mother was not returned: Just another horrific example of the unimaginable cruelty that Hamas has inflicted since October 7, 2023.

After murder of Ariel and Kfir:

Argentinian President declares two days of mourning

Argentinian President Javier Milei condemns Hamas after confirmation by Israel that Ariel and Kfir Bibas were brutally murdered in November of 2023: Their deaths stem from a single motivation - being Jewish.

'Peace will come with moral clarity'

OU condemns Hamas over murder of Bibas family

Orthodox Union comments on the latest developments in Israel: Peace will come when the world recognizes and upholds the human side of this conflict and erases the utter wickedness of the unrepentant promoters and celebrants of evil.

Washington, DC

CPAC Summit panel features emotional pleas from hostage families

Hundreds gather at CPAC National Summit in Washington D.C. for a special panel on hostages featuring testimonies of family members of hostages.

Ambassador Danon:

'UN cannot remain silent in the face of Hamas's barbarity'

Israel's Ambassador to the UN calls for condemnation of the Hamas terrorist organization: Hamas not only murdered Ariel and Kfir Bibas in cold blood – a four-year-old boy and a ten-month-old baby – but continues to violate every basic moral value even after their death.

'Severe violation by Hamas'

Kfir and Ariel identified, Shiri Bibas was not returned

IDF representatives inform the Bibas family that Ariel and Kfir Bibas have been identified. They were brutally murdered while in captivity in November of 2023. The additional body received is not that of Shiri Bibas. IDF: A violation of utmost severity by Hamas.

Steve Witkoff optimistic:

'We're making progress and hopefully it leads to good results'

US Special Mideast Envoy Steve Witkoff says he is optimistic that a resolution can be reached to progress to the second stage of the Gaza ceasefire and hostage deal.

'Whoever saves even 1 life'

Russian Chief Rabbi thanks Putin for release of Sasha Troufanov

Chief Rabbi of Russia, Rabbi Berel Lazar, meets Russian President Vladimir Putin following the release of Russian citizen Alexander Sasha Troufanov after nearly 500 days in Hamas captivity.

Herzog on American TV:

'What brings somebody to kidnap two toddlers in their pajamas?'

President Isaac Herzog spoke to international US-based media outlets, CNN and MSNBC, and highlighted the terrible cruelty Israel faces in its battle with Hamas terrorists.

Live from Hostages Square:

Ceremony in honor of the murdered hostages

Following the return of the bodies of four hostages, a ceremony is being held tonight at Hostages Square with the participation of Omer Adam, Ivri Lider, Hanan Ben Ari, and Roni Dalumi, alongside the families of the hostages.