Hostages in Gaza

'If Hamas says yes - we have a deal'

Israeli government demanding Hamas increase number of living hostages to be freed; defense echelon pressuring Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to hold talks on 'the day after' Hamas.

'A partial deal will sentence them to death'

Families of hostages held in Gaza hold rally demanding that no one be left behind. 'Government abandoning them for 15 months already.'

Albag family responds to video: 'It tore our hearts to pieces'

Family of kidnapped IDF lookout Liri Albag sends a message to their daughter and the world: 'Liri, if you're hearing us, tell the others that all the families are moving heaven and earth. We will fight until all hostages are returned.'

Freed Hostage:

'Liri's video gave me flashbacks'

Yigal Yaakov, who was just 13 when he and his brother were captured from Nir Oz, commented on the sign of life released from hostage Liri Elbag.

After 456 days:

Hamas publishes sign of life from hostage Liri Albag

Hamas publishes a sign of life from hostage Liri Albag, who was kidnapped from the Nahal Oz military base during the October 7 massacre.

John Kirby:

'We welcome Israel’s decision to send delegation to Qatar'

White House National Security Council spokesperson acknowledges in conversation with reporters there is no significant progress on hostage release deal, reiterates that Hamas is the one that initiated the conflict.

Hamas confirms:

Ceasefire and hostage deal talks to resume in Qatar

Hamas confirms in a statement that indirect negotiations for a ceasefire and hostage release deal are set to resume in Doha, reiterates demand for "complete cessation of hostilities (and) the withdrawal of occupation forces."

Report:

Israel demanding captured soldiers in first stage of hostage deal

Hamas claims that it cannot provide a list of all the living hostages because of the war, but is willing to discuss the inclusion of soldiers in the first stage of the deal.

Hostage negotiations

Israeli delegation to leave for Qatar

A professional-level delegation of the Mossad, the IDF, and the ISA will travel to Qatar to continue efforts to bring home the 100 hostages still being held by Hamas.

'With an Iranian accent'

Hostage's mother recounts threatening phone call

Julie Kupershtein, whose son Bar was abducted to Gaza, received a threatening phone call from a man claiming to be a Hamas member who told her she must topple the government to see her son again.

Hostages families:

Calls for 'unity' are an attempt to end the war

Hostages' relatives from the Tikva Forum cry to public: 'Calls for unity mask a call to end the war and pay a painful price; these calls actually make it harder to bring the hostages back.'

Report:

Netanyahu demanding release of all living hostages at once

Senior Hamas official claims that Netanyahu raised new demands in the negotiations on a hostage release deal, demanding the release of all the living hostages in the first phase of the agreement.

Herzog to Be’eri residents:

'We pray the 8th Hanukkah candle will bring wonderful news'

President Isaac Herzog lit the eighth Hanukkah candle with residents of Kibbutz Be’eri, who have been displaced and hosted over the past year in Kibbutz Hatzerim.

Hostages' families demand end to negotiations

Families of the hostages urged the government to end negotiations with Hamas and instead apply significantly greater military pressure to recover their loved ones.

Knesset Guard refuses entry to mother of hostage

The Knesset guard stopped Einav Tsangauker, mother of a kidnapped soldier, from entering the Knesset building. She was accused of trying to throw a glass bottle and threatened to stab a guest.

Trump:

'They better let the hostages come back soon'

US President-elect reiterates his warning to Hamas about returning all the hostages that it is holding in the Gaza Strip.

Hamas proposal:

Week-long ceasefire in exchange for list of hostages

The terrorist organization is not making the ceasefire conditional on the withdrawal of IDF forces from the Gaza Strip or the return of Gaza residents to their homes, claims it needs time to put together a list of 'humanitarian cases' of hostages.

ISA publishes audio recordings from hostage rescue operation

The ISA has released recordings from the hostage rescue operation in February, including the dedication of the operation to fallen comrades.

'I have to feel like I'm a hostage'

Chief Rabbi lights Hanukkah candles at Hostages Square

Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi Kalman Ber lit Hanukkah candles at the Hostages Square in Tel Aviv. 'It can not be that we have brethren who are hostages and we act like it's a regular day.'

'Work to bring them home'

Kibbutz Kissufim's request from Zionist rabbis

Kibbutz Kissufim in the Gaza envelope sent a letter to the rabbis of the religious Zionist community asking them to work to bring the hostages home.

Mother of Slain Hostage:

'Hannukah will always be Yotam's holiday'

Iris Haim, the mother of hostage Yotam who was tragically killed by IDF fire after escaping Hamas captivity, spoke at a Knesset event about women's bravery in the war.

UN receives Israel's report on Hamas abuse, torture of hostages

Ministry of Health submits report on abuse of Hamas hostages to UN, documenting widespread abuse, including sexual attacks, beatings, starvation, and isolation.

During Hanukkah:

Jewish children around world raise awareness for hostages

The children of Tikva School, supported by the Yael Foundation, identified with the plight of the hostages as Ukrainian refugees and united to form a moving human yellow ribbon, singing about home in Hebrew. We pray for the

Former Ambassador Friedman:

'The consequences of this war are solely on Hamas'

Former US Ambassador to Israel underlines the responsibility of Hamas for the consequences of the war to the people of Gaza: Hamas could have ended this war at any time within the past 450 days by freeing the hostages and surrendering.

Hanukkah initiative

Prayers for hostages at candlelighting

Over 20,000 people are dedicating a few minutes after lighting candles to pray for the recovery of the remaining hostages.

New film dedicated to hostages familie

'The 2,000 Kidnapped Spanish Jewish Children'

Film to shed light on the tragic story of 2,000 Jewish children from Spain who, after their families fled to Portugal in 1492 following the Edict of Expulsion, were forcibly kidnapped by Portuguese King Dom João II.

Herzog:

'UN has facts on hostages, morally obliged to bring them home'

Israeli President comments on the report submitted to the UN on the conditions in Gaza under which the freed hostages were held. 'Torture. Physical and psychological torture. Starvation. Sexual abuse. Beatings. Branding.'

Qatar PM meets Hamas delegation to discuss Gaza ceasefire deal

Qatar’s Prime Minister meets with a Hamas delegation in Doha in attempt to push forward ceasefire and hostage release deal.

Son of hostage: Our strength is in our unity!

Yocheved Lifshitz, who was kidnapped by Hamas and freed after 17 days, lights Hanukkah candles at Hostages Square in Tel Aviv: The 449 days that have passed are now one painful day until all our hostages return.

Danon:

'UN is trying to ignore horrors of October 7'

Israel’s Ambassador to the UN comments on Health Ministry report on the conditions of the hostages which will be submitted to the UN this week: We will continue to remind the UN of the sexual abuse, starvation, neglect and humiliation that our hostages are going through.

Erin Molan to the Pope:

'Use your power to recover the hostages'

Australian television presenter Erin Molan urged the Pope to blame those truly responsible for the suffering in Gaza.

The information that could've saved six hostages

Qaid Farhan al-Qadi, rescued from Gaza, related that he heard a woman say, 'Good morning' in Hebrew in the tunnels. Despite his testimony, no changes were made to the IDF's operational plans.

Health Min. to present report on hostages to the United Nations

'Report highlights horrors the hostages endured, reveals the brutality of the enemy with whom Israel is engaged; global community must utilize all available means to end this cruelty and bring the hostages home,' Health Minister Uriel Busso says.

John Kirby:

'Hamas is the obstacle to a hostage release deal'

White House National security communications adviser John Kirby says US is "actively working" to broker a ceasefire-hostage agreement between Israel and Hamas, but the terror group continues throwing up obstacles.

Watch:

100 vehicles form hostage ribbon symbol in Sde Boker

One hundred vehicles, one for each hostage still in Gaza, form the hostage ribbon symbol in Sde Boker.

A reexamination of the moral status of Jewish wartime hostages

In a war of national survival, the Torah teaches us that We ('home-front civilians', soldiers, hostages) ALL are equally combatants. Op-ed.

Herzog on hostage deal:

'Courageous decisions need to be made'

President Isaac Herzog lights Hanukkah candles with families of hostages: Without the return of the hostages, a scar will remain that will cut through our society and our people forever.

Netanyahu's message to Houthis:

'We're just getting started, we'll strike them relentlessly'

Prime Minister speaks on the importance of the fight against Iran: We did not make all of Jewish history so that the Ayatollahs and their proxies could put an end to the Jewish story.

'The flame burns'

Shwekey and Shlomi Shabbat sing for the return of the hostages

In honor of Hanukkah, Jewish singer Yaakov Shwekey and Israeli singer Shlomi Shabbat have released a duet singing "Haner Dolek" (the flame is burning) for the return of the hostages.

Minister Eliyahu:

'Path to hostages leads through dismissing AG'

Amichai Eliyahu claimed dismissing the Attorney General is crucial while downplaying Iran's nuclear threat.

Hamas official claims:

Ceasefire required to provide list of hostages

Hamas unable to provide Israel with a list of living hostages until a ceasefire in Gaza takes effect, Hamas official claims.

Bereaved father:

'No to an irresponsible deal'

Eliyahu Libman, whose son Elyakim was murdered on October 7, explains his opposition to the hostage release deal in its current form.

Pope Francis:

'May there be a ceasefire, may the hostages be released'

Pope Francis again relates to the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, uses traditional Christmas message to call for peace in the Middle East.

Bereaved father warns:

'Releasing terrorists will result in the deaths of more Israelis'

Herzl Hajaj, father of Lieutenant Shir Hajaj who was murdered in a terrorist attack, warns in a conversation with Arutz Sheva-Israel National News: Releasing terrorists as part of a hostage deal will have serious consequences.

Freed hostage in Washington:

'We need them to stop suffering underneath the ground in Gaza'

Aviva Siegel, who was freed from captivity and whose husband Keith remains in Hamas captivity, speaks at National Menorah Lighting: I was a hostage in Gaza. I felt it, I saw it. We need to bring them home now!

President Herzog:

'We must act with all our might to secure a hostage deal'

President Isaac Herzog lit Hanukkah candles with injured veterans and IDF soldiers and called on the government to finalize a hostage deal: 'This is your duty. This is your responsibility. You have my full support!'

Chief Rabbi:

Release terrorists with blood on their hands for hostages

Israel's Sephardic Chief Rabbi David Yosef noted that while he does not know all the details of the negotiations, he is sure that Israel must release terrorists, even those who murdered Jews, in exchange for the hostages.

For fear of terror attack:

Hostage families event in Tel Aviv evacuated

The police have decided to evacuate a Hanukkah candle-lighting event held by family members of hostages across from the IDF headquarters in Tel Aviv due to a fear of a security incident.

Hostage's father:

'Ireland helped free Emily but now rewards Hamas'

Thomas Hand, the father of Emily Hand, who was nine years old when she was kidnapped during the October 7 massacre and spent 50 days as a hostage in Gaza, said that he would "hesiate" to return to Ireland given the country's moves against Israel in the war against the Hamas terrorist organization.

Hamas claims:

Israel presented new conditions which delayed ceasefire deal

'Serious negotiations for ceasefire deal are ongoing, Hamas has shown responsibility and flexibility,' terror group claims in statement.

Delay in hostage deal negotiations due to Hamas foot-dragging

Hamas ignoring pressure from mediators, leader Mohammed Sinwar refusing to compromise, sources say.

Report:

Abbas making it difficult to reach a ceasefire agreement in Gaza

Palestinian Arab official accuses Abbas of placing obstacles in the path to reaching a ceasefire agreement because of his opposition to establishing a committee to manage the Gaza Strip.

'After significant week'

Israeli negotiating team to return from Qatar

Prime Minister's Office announces that the Israeli negotiation team, which had been in Qatar over the past week, will return to Israel for consultations.

IDF investigation:

IDF didn't know 6 hostages were in area before they were murdered

Investigation finds that Carmel Gat, Eden Yerushalmi, Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Alexander Lobanov, Almog Sarusi, and MSG Ori Danino were murdered on August 29, their bodies were discovered on August 31.

Why I don't go to rallies to free the hostages

The best thing that can be done for the hostages is not to give Hamas any means of pressure and not let them see our pain.

National Unity MK claims:

'Ben Gvir and Smotrich thwarted a hostage release deal'

MK Michael Biton criticizes the government's handling of the issue of a hostage deal.

Former US officials:

'Any agreement must include the seven American hostages'

Robert O’Brien, who served under Trump, and Tom Nides, who served under Biden, publish op-ed in The Wall Street Journal, stress bipartisan support in the US for the demand that any hostage release deal must include in its first stage the seven American citizens still being held by Hamas.

Herzog:

Israeli hostages now held just as long as Iran held US hostages

Israeli President notes that the 100 Israeli hostages have been held in Gaza for 444 days now, the same time Iran held 50 US citizens and diplomats hostage after its 1979 revolution.

PM:

'Progress in talks on hostage deal, we are climbing to victory'

Netanyahu addresses Knesset session initiated by opossition, criticizes Lapid for calling for 'war' against govt. 'What does war mean? Are you declaring war on your brothers?'

Smotrich:

'A partial deal would mean abandoning dozens of hostages'

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich addressed the issue of hostages, emphasizing unity and criticizing the opposition for divisive rhetoric.