Hostages in Gaza

Hostage's mother:

'Please let me hug my daughter again'

Meirav Leshem Gonen, whose daughter Romi was kidnapped on October 7, tells UN Human Rights Council all should be on the same side against hostage-taking.

Released hostage Ada Sagi:

‘I don't believe in peace now’

Released hostage, Ada Sagi, spoke about her captivity, her loss of hope for peace, and the payment Gaza residents were given to guard the hostages: ‘I heard them say 70 shekels a day, that's a lot of money in Gaza, because they don't have jobs.’

Hostage’s mother to daughter:

'We are fighting relentlessly for you to come home'

Hostage’s mother, Ayelet Levy, sent a message of encouragement to her daughter Naama, who is celebrating her birthday in captivity. "You are a strong, heroic and determined girl. You were like that from the first moment you were born."

How Moshe Feiglin remembers the hostages in Gaza

After participating in a TV panel, not knowing that the cameras were still rolling, former MK Moshe Feiglin removed his shoe to show the sister of one of the hostages how he remembers them.

Ex-hostage at White House:

'In captivity you have no control over your mind, body, or soul'

Amit Soussana, released hostage, spoke at White House event and disclosed details on Hamas sexual violence.

Hostage's father demands Lapid join unity government

After demanding that Benny Gantz and Gadi Eisenkot enter a unity government at this difficult time, Eli Shtivi, father of Idan, a hostage in Gaza, demanded the same from Yesh Atid.

President Herzog speaks with family of Nepalese hostage

The President spoke with the family of Bipin Joshi, an agriculture student who was kidnapped on October 7 and continues to be held by Hamas.

Hostage's father to Lapid:

'Shoulder the burden and join the government'

Eli Shtivi, the father of hostage Idan Shtivi who was taken to Gaza, attended the Yesh Atid party meeting and called on Lapid to immediately join the government in a move of unity.

Operation Arnon:

Identity of terrorists who held rescued hostages disclosed

Neighbors were shocked to hear that Ahmad Aljamal, a 73-year-old family doctor, and his son, Abdallah, a 37-year-old Al Jazeera journalist, held four rescued hostages.

Biden:

'Ceasefire plan is the only way to achieve a lasting peace'

Biden pushes for the ceasefire in Gaza and hostage release deal that he recently outlined: The three-phase ceasefire proposal is the best way to end the violence in Gaza.

US national security adviser:

'Qatar and Egypt plan to talk with Hamas on Gaza ceasefire'

White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan tells reporters that mediators for Qatar and Egypt plan to engage Hamas soon to see if there is a way to push ahead Biden's ceasefire proposal.

Dramatic and moving footage from the rescue of Noa Argamani

In the footage, Argamani's rescuers are seen entering the apartment where she was being held, talking to her and calming her down. She is later rescued from the building as one of the officers carries her on his back.

G7 leaders:

'We fully endorse Biden's ceasefire and hostage release deal'

Leaders of the G7 countries declare support for the ceasefire and hostage release deal outlined by US President Joe Biden, express concern over recent escalation between Israel and Hezbollah.

Freed hostage Andrey Kozlov:

'I saw a lot of rallies and it gave me a lot of hope'

Six days after his rescue from captivity, Andrey Kozlov is urging the public to attend Saturday night's rally at Hostages Square.

Helmet cam footage:

Freed hostages evacuated under fire

Footage from the soldiers' helmet cameras from the moments when the hostages and the special forces were transferred to vehicles under fire in Nuseirat, during Operation Arnon.

Hamas official claims:

'No one has an idea how many hostages are still alive'

Senior Hamas official Osama Hamdan tells CNN the latest ceasefire proposal did not meet the group’s demands for an end to the war.

Parents of rescued hostage:

'There are things that he’ll never talk about'

The parents of Andrey Kozlov look back on the excitement of learning their son was rescued from Hamas captivity and the moving reunion and share the horrifying effects of Hamas' psychological torture: 'He thought the Israeli soldiers came to kill them.'

'Irresponsibility'

Bibas family responds to Benny Gantz

Relatives of the Bibas family responded to remarks by the ex-minister who hinted the worst befell the parents and two young children. 'We still wholeheartedly believe that we will hear good news.'

Noa Argamani's first question upon her liberation

Commander of Yamam team that found Noa Argamani on Saturday reveals the first thing she asked when they rescued her.

Gantz:

'I think Israel knows fate of Bibas family'

National Unity party leader explains decision to leave the government, accuses Netanyahu of preventing hostage deal for political reasons.

Netanyahu to Yamam forces:

'You raised the stature of our nation with the hostage rescue'

PM, Minister Ben-Gvir visit base following the rescue of four hostages on Saturday.

The day after - Happy Isru Chag!

Homecoming is complicated. So is the day after.

Chances for a hostage deal close to none

Hamas staunchly refuses the Israeli demand to exile the terrorists, not even to the Gaza Strip, and demands that they be returned to their place of origin, including Judea and Samaria.

6 months in a dark room:

New details of treatment of rescued hostages revealed

Wall Street Journal report details abuse endured by 3 of the hostages who were rescued on Saturday, including physical and psychological torture.

Hamas submits response

Israeli official: They rejected the Biden proposal

Senior Hamas official says the group is committed to demand for a ceasefire and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. Israeli official: Hamas rejected the outline proposed by Biden.

Jordan's Foreign Minister:

'Israel will become more of a pariah state'

Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and his Jordanian counterpart Ayman Safadi call on Israel to abide by Security Council resolution for plan to end the war in Gaza which has been rejected by Hamas.

US Ambassador to the UN:

'Israel accepted the deal, we want Hamas to do so as well'

US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield urges Hamas to accept ceasefire and hostage release deal proposal which was outlined by President Joe Biden.

US National Security Adviser:

'Ceasefire deal could lead to Saudi normalization'

US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan says Biden is of the opinion that Hamas cannot remain in power in Gaza following the war.

Touching:

Noa Argamani meets mother of boyfriend still in captivity

Ditza Or, whose son Avinatan is held captive by Hamas in Gaza, met her son's girlfriend Noa Argamani, who was rescued in Operation Arnon after eight months of captivity.

Mother of hostage:

'A breath of air in the suffocating reality we live'

Rachel, the mother of hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin, was elated to hear of Operation Arnon's success but believes that military raids have their limits.

Pentagon:

'Israel did not use Gaza aid pier in hostage rescue operation'

Pentagon spokesperson pushes back on reports claiming that Israel used the US-built pier off Gaza during "Operation Arnon" to rescue hostages held in Gaza.

Doctor who treated hostages:

'The hostages were beaten while in captivity'

Doctor in charge of medical treatment for four hostages who were rescued tells CNN that the eight months spent in captivity “left a significant mark on their health”.

Biden:

'An opportunity for Hamas to prove they want a ceasefire'

US President again calls on Hamas to accept ceasefire and hostage release deal, after the UN Security Council adopted US-drafted resolution which backs the proposal.

Resolution approved

Security Council calls on Hamas to accept deal

United Nations Security Council adopts US-drafted resolution which backs the proposal for a ceasefire and hostage release deal and calls on Hamas to accept the proposal.

Ben-Gvir's position accepted:

Terrorists' bodies will be held in Israel

The political-security cabinet supported Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir's position over Minister Yoav Gallant's position on continuing to hold terrorists' bodies.

Report:

Documents prove that Netanyahu agreed to discuss ending the war

Israel submitted a document about a month ago with its proposal for a deal to release the hostages which was not disclosed to the cabinet. Netanyahu's office claims that the document presented is partial and misleading.

Watch:

The moment the hostages were found

New footage shows IDF soldiers coming under heavy fire during the rescue of three of the hostages on Saturday.

'1st 1 on board, 2nd, 3rd:'

New footage of hostage rescue released

IDF releases new footage showing Almog Meir Jan, Andrey Kozlov, and Shlomi Ziv boarding and flying on the helicopter that took them to freedom after they were rescued on Saturday.

Freed hostage's mother:

'I can sleep well for the first time in 8 months'

Orit Meir, the mother of Almog Meir Jan, who was rescued on Saturday, describes how she learned of her son's return, calls for deal to free the remaining hostages.

'The elephant in the room'

MFA highlights 'civilian' involvement in Hamas atrocities

New video notes how Gazan civilians participated in killing, raping, and abducting Israelis on October 7th and still assist in holding hostages.

Report:

Biden admin. considered unilateral deal with Hamas

Administration officials discussed holding talks, that would exclude Israel, for the release of the five US citizens still being held by the terror organization.

US official:

Successful rescue operation complicates efforts to reach a deal

Ahead of US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s visit to Israel, the Biden administration seems to see the successful operation, which rescued four hostages, in a negative light.

ANALYSIS:

‘At the level of Entebbe’

The military’s growing control of Gaza created conditions for the daring daylight hostage rescue in Nuseirat • Terrorists fired waves of RPGs at the extraction force from civilian areas.

Report:

Security Council to vote on US ceasefire deal

Axios' Barak Ravid reports that the US circulated a new draft Security Council resolution calling on Hamas to accept the hostage and ceasefire deal outlined by Biden. A vote is expected on Monday.

Urban warfare expert:

'Hostages were not freed, they were RESCUED.'

Chair of Urban Warfare Studies at the Modern War Institute at West Point John Spencer says mainstream media is wrongly reporting the rescue operation and the war in Gaza in general.

Chief of Staff in Gaza:

'We take significant risks and make fateful decisions'

IDF Chief Staff LTG Herzi Halevi visited the eastern region of Deir al-Balah in the Gaza Strip and discussed the operation that rescued four hostages.

Moving footage:

Andrey Kozlov reunites with his parents

Andrey's parents Evgenya and Michael arrived in Israel from Russia after their son was rescued from Hamas captivity in an Israeli operation.

IDF confirms:

Al Jazeera journalist was terrorist who held hostages

Al Jazeera journalist Abdallah Aljamal was an operative in the Hamas terrorist organization, who held the hostages Almog Meir Jan, Andrey Kozlov, and Shlomi Ziv captive in his family home in Nuseirat.

Helmet-cam footage:

Shayetet 13 commandos escort rescued hostages to helicopters

The IDF has released helmet-cam footage showing the naval commandos transferring the rescued hostages from the Yamam and ISA forces to the helicopters that took them home.

'Welcome home!'

Hundreds gather in NYC to celebrate rescue of hostages

Participants celebrated the rescue of four hostages from Gaza and wrote on the posters with the hostages' photos that had been hanging around the city 'HOME!'

Israeli flags in hand

Thousands pay respects to Yamam officer killed in rescue op.

The Yamam commanding officer eulogized Chief Inspector Arnon Zamora and recalled how he led his men in fighting terrorists on October 7th.

Report:

This is the room where Noa Argamani was held hostage

Gazans posted pictures of the room where they claim Noa Argamani was held until her rescue

Released hostage:

'The citizens of Israel hurt me, they reacted negatively'

Released hostage Agam Goldstein-Almog recounted what she sees as shockingly negative reactions to her release. 'I got reactions as if you're my enemies.'

Netanyahu:

'Happy is the nation that is blessed with its heroes'

During Cabinet meeting, PM says rescue of 4 hostages demonstrates the stature of Israelis and their supporters, but the loss of the rescuers' commander remains painful.

"Proud and Love You"

Fallen commander's letter to his team

Arnon Zamora, who fell during the rescue of four hostages, wrote to his team: 'I wouldn't ask for _ else beside me but you.'

Report:

Noa Argamani was held in Al Jazeera reporter's apartment

Arab journalist Abdallah Aljamal killed while reportedly attempting to prevent the rescue of a female hostage he held captive in his apartment.

Col. Richard Kemp:

'Incredibly impressive, hard to rescue hostages from 2 places'

Former commander of British forces in Afghanistan speaks to Arutz Sheva about the difficulty and achievement of the rescue of 4 hostages yesterday, warns Hamas will attempt to make further rescues more difficult.

BBC asks:

Why didn't Israel warn Gazans before the hostage rescue?

During an interview with former IDF spokesperson Jonathan Conricus, a BBC presenter wondered why Israel did not alert the Gazans before the hostage rescue operation.

'Didn't get to see son's return'

Father of hostage died hours before his son's rescue

Yossi Jan found unresponsive when officials came to tell him the news that his son Almog Meir was rescued from Gaza.

Fallen commander's widow:

'Amazing spouse, perfect dad, loving and beloved man'

In a post published by Michal Zamora, the widow of fallen YAMAM officer Arnon Zamora who fell in battle during the hostage rescue mission, she eulogized: "He was a loving and beloved man."