Hostages in Gaza

Hostage Omer Neutra declared fallen IDF soldier

Captain Omer Maxim Neutra, lone soldier from New York, served as a tank commander in the IDF. He was kidnapped to Gaza during the October 7 massacre, and was recently declared dead.

Over a thousand rally in New York, demanding action for hostages

Adi Alexander, father of Edan Alexander, urges US President Biden, President-elect Trump, and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu: 'This is a moment for courage, collaboration, and decisive action.'

Edan's mother:

'The video was heartbreaking, but it was a good sign of life'

Yael Alexander, whose son Edan was the subject of a recent Hamas video proving he is still alive, spoke with Arutz Sheva about the ordeal facing her and her family.

Herzog to mother of hostage:

'Time to finalize deal, bring the hostages home'

Less than a day after a video was released showing Edan Alexander held hostage by Hamas terrorists, President Isaac Herzog and First Lady Michal met this morning, Sunday, with his family.

Ben-Gvir's ultimatum on 'unacceptable' hostage deal

National Security Minister calls terms of hostage deal being discussed 'irrelevant' and warns that 'the prime minister very much does not want Otzma Yehudit to leave the government.'

NYC:

Mayoral employee filmed ripping down hostage posters

Nallah Sutherland, an employee of the office of NYC Mayor Eric Adams, given 'slap on the wrist' after being filmed tearing down posters of Israeli hostages and assaulting the person filming her.

A year after being freed

Little Emily takes the stage at Hostages' Square

Emily Hand who was freed from Hamas captivity in a hostage release deal a year ago: I know how it feels to be there, so I don't even want to imagine what they are going through now.

Senator Graham:

'Trump is interested in a hostage deal before he takes office'

Senator Lindsey Graham tells Axios US President-elect is keen on achieving a ceasefire and hostage agreement in Gaza before his inauguration on January 20.

White House:

War in Gaza would end tomorrow if Hamas released hostages

Video of hostages Edan Alexander a 'a cruel reminder of Hamas’s terror against citizens of multiple countries, including our own,' White House statement reads.

Mother of British hostage:

'UN resolution would've been a death sentence for our loved ones'

'If UN & other international organizations had done their jobs, our loved ones would be home by now. Instead, we get excuses, fake support, & empty promises,' Mandy Damari, mother of British-Israeli citizen Emily Damari, says at Sha'ar Hanegev rally.

Edan's mother:

Netanyahu told me that conditions are right to bring them home

Following the release of the Hamas video of hostage Edan Alexander, his mother spoke at a rally in Tel Aviv about her conversation with Prime Minister Netanyahu.

Psychological terrorism:

In Hamas video, American-Israeli hostage speaks to Trump

Idan Alexander, an immigrant from New Jersey, was kidnapped from the Kissufim Crossing by Hamas terrorists, and has been held captive in Gaza ever since.

Kenneth Roth calls need to liberate hostages 'utter irrelevancy'

Former Human Rights Watch director defends ICC warrants against Netanyahu and Gallant by calling the hostages and Israel's right to self defense "utter irrelevancies."

Netanyahu:

'Conditions to bring hostages home have improved'

Prime Minister stated that the threat on the northern border has been removed and the residents of northern Israel will return 'when they feel it correct.'

Mia Schem gets engaged a year after being released from captivity

Mia Schem got engaged to her partner Yinon Hason almost exactly one year after being released from Hamas captivity.

Study reveals:

Released hostages suffer severe ongoing health challenges

1 year after the first hostage deal, study by the Health Team of the Hostages and Missing Families Forum finds former hostages suffer malnutrition, untreated fractures, nerve damage, long-term disabilities, PTSD, and accelerated aging.

Egypt's proposal:

Temporary ceasefire with hostage release

Egyptian intelligence delegation proposes ceasefire-prisoner swap deal lasting one or two months and including hostage release, talks to end war.

Report:

Egyptian delegation to visit Israel for talks on Gaza deal

Source in Israel denies reports that an Egyptian security delegation will travel to Israel on Thursday in an effort to reach a Gaza ceasefire deal.

Report

Biden told Netanyahu: Let’s get the hostages

Axios reports that Biden emphasized to Netanyahu that, following the ceasefire agreement in Lebanon, the priority should now shift to securing the release of hostages and achieving a ceasefire in Gaza.

Welfare Minister:

'There will be no rehabilitation without the hostages returning'

Minister Yaakov Margi visits kibbutzim evacuated after October 7, promises to continue assisting the residents.

Ben Gvir to hostage families:

'I'm not prepared to have another 1000 Sinwars'

Representatives of the hostage families confront Minister of National Security | MKs Meirav Cohen and Shelly Tal Meron were removed from session.

Father of Hostage:

Stop Netanyahu trial to recover hostages

Gilad Korngold, father of hostage Tal Shoham, urges the entire country to focus on rescuing the hostages, before anything else.

Labor Minister:

'The hostages are the nation's biggest wound'

Labor Minister Yoav Ben Tzur calls to increase diplomatic and military pressure to bring hostages home. 'Time is running out.'

Moving:

What will the hostages' return look like?

A year after the implementation of the previous hostage deal, the Hostages Families Forum published a moving video depicting family members of those still in captivity celebrating upon hearing of their release. The video is followed by the tagline: 'An entire nation is waiting.'

President Herzog:

'Every day hostages do not return, we have failed'

Israeli President Isaac Herzog has called on his government to enhance efforts to free hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, emphasizing the critical need for their immediate return.

Netanyahu vows:

'None of Rabbi Zvi Kogan's murderers will get away'

PM at Cabinet meeting expresses 'deep outrage – on behalf of myself, all members of the Government, all citizens of Israel and the entire Jewish people – over the abduction and murder of Zvi Kogan.'

Trump and the hostages

How will the incoming president handle the remaining hostages in Gaza - including several American citizens?

Hamas publishes footage which seems to show murdered hostage

'We are examining the information, and at this stage, we cannot confirm or refute it,' IDF spokesman says.

Amb. Danon to Arutz Sheva:

'Boycott the ICC, and anyone who cooperates with it'

Israel's ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, tells Arutz Sheva that Israel must take punitive action against the ICC, the Palestinian Authority, and anyone who cooperates with the arrest warrants.

Senior defense official:

Hamas gave up on a major demand, it wants a deal

The deal would be a 'humanitarian' one and would include the release of hostages, a 42-day ceasefire, the release of terrorists, and other heavy prices that Israel would have to pay.

Award-winning actor:

'Let everyone in Gaza die of hunger until the hostages come home'

Israel should have paused all humanitarian aid to Gaza at the start of the war in order to release all the hostages, Israeli actor Uri Gavriel says.

ISA head to hostage families:

Protests might toughen Hamas position

Hostage families asked Bar about holding demonstrations against government ministers' claims that they were undermining negotiations. 'This could toughen Hamas' positions,' he said.

State Department spokesman:

'UNSC resolution didn't link hostage release to a ceasefire'

State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller explains that the US chose to veto resolution calling for ceasefire in Gaza because it failed to link between a ceasefire and a hostage release.

Yelena Troufanov:

'Sasha is my soul; without him, I have no life'

Yelena Troufanov celebrated her son Sasha's birthday, the second while he is still held captive by Hamas: 'He is my heart, my soul, my entire life. Without him, I have no life.'

Netanyahu in Gaza:

'Hamas won't be here, we'll hunt anyone who harms hostages'

PM and Defense Minister visit soldiers in the Netzarim Corridor in central Gaza, says Hamas governing capabilities are being dismantled along with its military capabilities.

410 days in Gaza:

'We didn't tell Mom Shlomo was a hostage until the day she died'

Shlomo Mansour, 86, one of the founders of Kibbutz Kissufim, was taken hostage by Hamas. His family hid the kidnapping from his 100-year-old aunt to avoid distressing her.

Biden at G20:

'Increase the pressure on Hamas, which is refusing a deal'

US President urges G20 leaders to intensify efforts to pressure Hamas into agreeing to a ceasefire with Israel.

'Look me in the eye'

Watch: Freed hostage challenges UCLA protest leader

Newly published video from event held last June in Los Angeles shows Moran Stela Yanai, who was kidnapped by Hamas and released 54 days later, directly addressing pro-Palestinian Arab activist Aidan Dewolf.

ISA director visits Turkey to discuss hostage deal

ISA director Ronen Bar met last Saturday with his Turkish counterpart, Ibrahim Kalin. The two discussed the possibility of Ankara renewing the negotiations for a hostage deal.

Netanyahu Confirms:

'We hit a component related to Iran's nuclear program'

Prime Minister Netanyahu has publicly confirmed for the first time that Israel's attack damaged the Iranian nuclear program.

Hostage's father to AG:

IDF must defeat Hamas, bring back hostages

'IDF is not measured by whether soldiers give water to a woman in Gaza, but by whether it defends the citizens of Israel,' Tzvika Mor, father of hostage Eitan Mor, tells Knesset committee.

Senior Hamas official:

'Foreign leadership maintained ties with military in Gaza'

A senior Hamas official says that the reason for severing ties with those responsible for the hostages in Gaza is due to strict security arrangements.

Families of hostages to Trump: They won't survive the winter

Hostages' families hold protest in Tel Aviv, call on US President-elect Trump to intervene - and bring about the release of their loved ones.

Watch: Residents of Eli and relatives of hostages sing together

Residents of the town of Eli, which has lost several soldiers in the war, sing together with families of hostages during a special evening in Eli dedicated to prayers for the hostages' welfare.

More psychological terror:

Fourth sign of life from hostage Sasha Trufanov

Islamic Jihad publishes fourth video, second within a week, of hostage Sasha Trufanov - this time with him begging Shas chief Aryeh Deri not to let him die in Gaza.

Noa Kirel in the UN:

'I worked with Gali and Ziv personally, they all must come home'

Israeli ambassador to the UN Danny Danon hosted singing star Noa Kirel to talk about her work alongside two of the hostages till held in Gaza.

Jake Sullivan:

'There's room for cooperation with Trump team on hostage deal'

US National Security Adviser tells reporters Biden raised the issue of the American hostages being held in Gaza during his meeting at the White House with Trump: We’re prepared to work with the incoming team to secure the release of the hostages.

Biden to hostage families:

'The efforts to bring them home will continue'

US President meets families of Americans who have been held hostage by Hamas since October 7, 2023. White House: He reaffirmed the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to getting the hostages home.

After PIJ hostage vid

Family relieved to see sign of life, but worried over condition

Lena Troufanov and Sapir Cohen, the mother and girlfriend of hostage Sasha Troufanov, reacted to the video Islamic Jihad released showing him in captivity.

Senior haredi rabbi:

'What would have happened if Netanyahu's son were abducted?'

Rabbi Dov Lando, the senior rabbi of the Lithuanian (non-hassidic) haredi community, met with family members of hostages, prayed for their return, and discussed efforts to bring them home.

Danon to UNRWA chief:

'Look hostage's mother in the eye and ask for forgiveness'

Israeli UN Ambassador and Ayelet Samerano, mother of hostage Yonatan Somerano, confront UNRWA Dir. Philippe Lazzarini and call on him to resign over UNRWA's employment of killers and kidnappers.

With the Chief Rabbi:

Hostages' families pray for their safe return at Rachel's Tomb

On the anniversary of Rachel the Matriarch's passing, Israel's new Chief Rabbi joins dozens of relatives of hostages in prayers for their safe return.

Giora Eiland accuses:

'Biden to blame for preventing return of hostages'

Biden's insistence on humanitarian aid to Gaza 'placed a death sentence on the hostages,' Giora Eiland explains.

Islamic JIhad reveals:

Additional sign of life from hostage Sasha Troufanov

Islamic Jihad releases third sign of life from hostage Sasha Troufanov, who turned 29 earlier this week.

Biden's bizarre response to an Israeli reporter's question

US President Joe Biden is asked by an Israeli journalist whether he believes a hostage deal is possible in the near future - and offers a response that raises a storm.

State Department spokesman:

'We have not given up hope on a hostage release deal'

State Department spokesman Vedant Patel tells reporters that the Biden administration continues to pursue efforts to reach a Gaza ceasefire deal, despite Qatar suspending its involvement as a mediator.

Hostage families to Jake Sullivan:

'Work with Trump and his team to finalize hostage deal'

Families of American hostages meet US National Security Adviser, express gratitude for the administration’s support and urge the administration to work with Trump and his transition team to commit all available time and resources to finalize a deal.

Jake Sullivan:

'Israel not delaying deal - Hamas is'

White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan discussed efforts to reach a deal between Israel and Hamas and stated that Hamas 'communicating to the mediators is no, we will not do a ceasefire and hostage deal at this time.'

Why the USA is demanding Qatar expel Hamas

America has increased it's efforts against Hamas following the execution of American citizen Hersh Goldberg-Polin.

Noa Argamani on Instagram: 'The abandonment continues'

The hostage rescued during Operation Arnon criticized the Israeli government: 'Another day passes and another day passes amid complete uncertainty wrapped in despair.'