Hostages in Gaza

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.

Official source denies:

Israel won't agree to withdraw from 'most' of Philadephi Corridor

Egyptian channel reports Israel agrees to withdraw from most of the Philadelphi Corridor for a hostage deal. A reliable source denied the report, saying 'one must not forget that we are dealing with monsters.'

Hostage's mother: My son began observing Shabbat in captivity

Shelly Shem Tov, mother of Omer who was kidnapped in Gaza, describes how she heard from other hostages about her son's strengthening faith.

Smotrich:

'A ceasefire that means an end to fighting is a loss'

Minister Bezalel Smotrich meets bereaved families and says: "A responsible deal is one in which all the hostages are returned."

Inside op. in which hostage Sahar Baruch was killed

Terrorists waiting for IDF rescue team opened fire immediately when the rescuers opened the door, leading to fierce gunfight in which Sahar was killed and 2 soldiers seriously wounded.

Permissible to kidnap soldiers?

Police investigate MK Tibi for incitement

MK Ahmad Tibi's statement that kidnapping women and children is wrong but kidnapping soldiers is different to be investigated.

Prayer for the hostages

In collaboration with the Young Israel of Scarsdale, Mordy Weinstein is back with a touching music video for "Prayer for the Hostages."

Netanyahu:

'Gantz, who can't help, should at least not hurt'

Prime Minister Netanyahu's staff have denounced the accusations that he is deliberately hampering a hostage deal.

Benny Gantz:

'Netanyahu is intentionally hampering a hostage deal'

National Unity leader Benny Gantz criticized the Prime Minister as trying to prevent a hostage deal for political reasons.

Comparing hostages, 1981 and now

One of the greatest differences between the coverage of the hostages held in Iran 45 years ago for 444 days and of the hostages in Gaza today is that no one was on Iran's side then, while many are on Hamas's side today. Tomorrow marks day 444 for hostages in Gaza.

Prof. Aumann:

Hostage families' campaign only raises their price

Prof. Robert Aumann expressed anger over the campaign by the families of the hostages, called to embrace them but not to agree to all deals, and wants to see Jews returning to settle Gaza.

Senior government official:

The hostage deal is partial - unclear if it will continue

A senior political official sent messages to the families of hostages who are not expected to be included in the first round of the deal saying there is no guarantee that it will continue to the next round.

PA official:

'Talks on ceasefire deal are 90% complete'

Palestinian Arab official tells BBC that if solution is found to unresolved issues, the parties could agree on a three-stage ceasefire within days.

Hamas passes Israel list of terrorists to be freed in swap deal

Israel presents Hamas with a list of 34 hostages to be released in the first stage of a deal, 'including 11 who do not meet the criteria. Hamas agreed - in exchange for special compensation.'

TV host fired for being pro-Israel visits Nir Oz

Erin Molan, a pro-Israel host who was fired by Sky News Australia, recently visited Nir Oz - one of the towns targeted by the Hamas invasion, which killed nearly a quarter of its population.

'An Innocent Mistake:'

IDF invites family of hostages to ceremony for bereaved families

The parents of Nimrod Cohen, a missing soldier, received an invitation for a bereaved families' event despite several signs of life from their son.

Hostages' families:

We demand a deal that will ensure the return of all hostages

Families of hostages oppose partial deal, stress, 'We demand a deal that leaves no one behind!'

Diplomatic source:

Archterrorist Marwan Barghouti won't be released

Head of Fatah's Tanzim group says archterrorist Marwan Barghouti at top of Hamas' list of terrorists to be freed in a prisoner swap deal; diplomatic source says Barghouti won't be freed.

Arab report: 'Cautious optimism' for ceasefire deal

Negotiators for ceasefire-prisoner swap deal between Israel and the Hamas terror group report 'significant progress' in reaching two-stage deal, Lebanese outlet reports.

Netanyahu:

'I will not agree to a deal that will end the war'

Netanyahu said he would not agree to end the war before eliminating Hamas. 'We will not leave them in power in Gaza, 50 kilometers from Tel Aviv. It will not happen.'

Talks on hostage deal

Israel demands that 'heavy' freed terrorists be expelled abroad

Sources with knowledge of the details say Israel has demanded that “heavy” terrorist prisoners who would be released as part of the upcoming hostage release deal be expelled abroad, rather than be transferred to Judea and Samaria.

Report:

Signs of life received from several hostages

Channel 12 News reports that several families of hostages being held in the Gaza Strip recently received signs of life from their loved ones, after a lengthy period during which almost no such signs were received.

Families of hostages:

'Not in a month - now!'

Families of the hostages have urged both the Trump and Biden administrations, as well as the Israeli government, not to wait for Trump's inauguration to secure a prisoner exchange deal.

Hostage's mother:

'National unity is my obligation to my daughter'

Meirav Leshem Gonen, mother of hostage Romi, tells Arutz Sheva about her work trying to bridge the gaps in the approaches to hostage negotiations.

Can You Hear Me?

Powerful social experiment in New York highlights hostage crisis

Visionary filmmaker Jonathan Dekel created an underground experiment to see if he could make people care about the 100 people who are held hostage underground in Hamas tunnels, 7 of whom are Americans.

Blinken:

'Hamas knows the cavalry’s not coming to the rescue'

Secretary of State expresses optimism that a hostage release deal can be achieved. "If Hamas really purports to care about the Palestinian people, they will say yes and do it now."

Hamas sources:

Disagreements remain on two issues critical to prisoner swap deal

'Excellent' progress on ceasefire negotiations, only two key issues remain, Hamas sources tell Lebanon's Al-Akhbar.

Hamas official:

We're close to an agreement to end the war in Gaza

Hamas official says agreement between Israel and Hamas is in the final stages, after the sides succeeded in reaching agreements on most of the issues causing disagreement.

MK Avichay Buaron:

'It is impossible to end the war without destroying Hamas'

Likud MK Avichay Buaron expresses his position on the proposed hostage release deal: The fundamental understanding is that the hostage deal cannot be tied to the destruction of Hamas.

Smotrich warns:

'Releasing hundreds of terrorists will rehabilitate Hamas'

Minister Bezalel Smotrich explains his opposition to the hostage release deal in its current form: "Releasing hundreds of terrorists who will rehabilitate Hamas' leadership is very bad."

Blinken:

'Saudis even more convinced of the need for a Palestinian state'

US Secretary of State tells Foreign Affairs magazine that Hamas has been more productive on getting a ceasefire and hostage release deal done "because they’ve seen that the cavalry is not coming to the rescue."

Congressional press conference calls for release of hostages

Hostage family members and female leaders of the US Bipartisan Women’s Caucus hold joint press conference urging the immediate Release of All Hostages.

Danon to Iranian people:

Don't miss historic opportunity, People of Israel stand with you

Israeli Amb. to the UN Danny Danon tells UN Security Council the time to act is now to 'prevent a nuclear Iran and define the Revolutionary Guards as a terrorist organization.'

Chief of Staff in Rafah:

'We're pressuring Hamas every day to return the hostages'

IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi holds situational assessment in Gaza, says communities near Gaza are 'coming back to life.'

Hostage's brother to UNSC:

'Your silence is deafening, your inaction is suffocating'

Michael Levy, brother of Or Levy, becomes first family member of a hostage held in Gaza to address the UN Security Council, criticizes UN for failing to act to bring the hostages home.

Smotrich:

Deal would be 'serious mistake,' now's the time to crush Hamas

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich slams proposed prisoner swap deal, stressing that it won't bring back all the hostages. 'Hamas is at its lowest point, this is not the time to throw them a lifeline.'

Biden:

'I spoke with Netanyahu and we’ll speak again'

US President when asked if he would speak with Netanyahu about a potential ceasefire and hostage release deal in Gaza before he leaves office: I spoke with him and we’ll speak again.

Report:

Breakthrough in normalization talks with Saudi Arabia

According to the report, Crown Prince bin Salman shows no interest in recognizing a Palestinian state, but wants to appease public opinion in his country.

"They Must All Return":

Hamas captivity survivors deliver powerful testimonies

"They Must All Return": Released Hamas hostages speak out while their loved ones remain in captivity.

Bereaved father initiates ‘Shabbat for the Hostages’

'We must do everything we can to bring the hostages back home. We must remember that praying is important, but actions are what's needed,' says bereaved father, Zvi Zussman to Arutz Sheva.

PA official reveals outline of hostage deal

According to a PA official who spoke with the BBC, the ceasefire deal being worked on would see all hostages released in 2 phases and a complete end to the war in phase 3.

PMO denies Netanyahu headed to Cairo for ceasefire talks

Prime Minister's Office issues denial after Reuters report of a dramatic development in hostage and ceasefire talks could signal that a deal may be signed in the coming days.

Hamas official: We gave up demand IDF leave Gaza

An official from Hamas told the Washington Post that the terrorist organization is showing greater flexibility in ceasefire talks, dropping demands such as a complete end to the war.