Hostages in Gaza

The week that shouldn’t be historic

What’s most unsettling about this moment isn’t the milestone itself. It’s that it qualifies as one at all. Opinion.

Tzvika Mor dismisses allegations against Gal Hirsch

Tzvika Mor pushes back against criticism over the salary of the coordinator for hostages and missing persons, Gal Hirsch.

Amit Segal:

'The protests did not bring the hostages closer to returning'

Commentator Amit Segal criticizes the families of hostages who attacked Gal Hirsch: “Don’t say Hamas said one thing and we said the opposite - because that’s not what happened."

Silence is golden:

Hostage families lash out at Gal Hirsch

In a public letter, hostage families accuse Gal Hirsch of harmful conduct and deception, demanding his immediate resignation.

Beyond the Last Hostage:

Israel risks losing the strategic endgame in Gaza

Peace is not a product of conferences or signatures; it is the result of the enemy accepting that they have lost. Only once the foundational concept of Israeli victory is accepted can any discussion about the future relationship begin. Opinion.

Tikva Forum:

'Gal Hirsch told the painful truth'

The Tikva Forum on Sunday issued a statement expressing full support for the government’s coordinator for hostages and missing persons, Gal Hirsch, following criticism of remarks he made opposing protests during the fighting.

Released hostage accuses hostage coordinator of abandonment

Or Levi, who was released from Gaza after 491 days in captivity, claimed that hostage and missing person coordinator Gal Hirsch abandoned the hostages in Gaza.

Gal Hirsch

'I received death threats from hostage's mother'

Israel’s Coordinator for Hostages and Missing Persons, revealed that he received threats from Einav Zangauker following the return of her son, Matan, from captivity. “It didn’t happen just once."

Gal Hirsch reveals:

'Rescue missions were halted to avoid endangering hostages'

The Hostages and Missing Persons Coordinator, in an interview with i24NEWS, denies claims that hostage deals were delayed due to politics. "There were no political considerations in decision-making in our field."

Watch: Parents of last hostage sing with captivity survivors

Talik and Itzik Gvili, parents of fallen Yasam fighter Ran Gvili whose body was held hostage in Gaza, sing 'Acheinu Kol Beit Yisrael' with Hamas captivity survivors Eitan Mor, Segev Kalfon, and supporters, with injured Mordechay Shenvald on the violin. Watch.

Ariel and David Cunio:

We came back to life, now is the time for repair

At Kibbutz Nir Oz community's final rally, David and Ariel Cunio, released from Hamas captivity in October, say their presence is 'living proof that even in the face of the most terrible darkness, the human spirit can prevail.'

'No one left behind'

Final Kabbalat Shabbat held at Hostages Square

Hundreds gather at Tel Aviv's Hostages Square for a final Kabbalat Shabbat service marking the end of over two years of vigils, following the return of the last Israeli hostage, Ran Gvili.

Watch: Moving convoy honors Ran Gvili

Motorcycle convoy drives to site of Nova massacre, attended by former MK and honoring fallen Yasam fighter and last hostage Ran Gvili.

Special interview with Arutz Sheva

Intelligence officers behind operation to return Ran Gvili speak

Lieutenant H. and Sergeant Major M. from the Captives and Missing Persons Headquarters shared with Arutz Sheva a behind-the-scenes look at the operation to return Ran Gvili.

Former hostage Sasha Troufanov describes torture, harassment

Former hostage Sasha Troufanov, held 498 days in Gaza, warns in interview with BBC that rebuilding Gaza won't prevent future attacks: “The terrorists told me 'we will do this again and again.'"

Trump

'There's a good chance Hamas will disarm'

US President addresses Cabinet meeting, says Hamas was a 'big factor' in the return of the hostages.

Bereaved father

'Not all returned from Gaza, my son’s head is still there'

Nirel Zini was brutally murdered on 10/7 and buried without his head. His father, Amir, only discovered this after persistent efforts and began a personal mission to locate parts of his son's body.

Hostages' families: Every additional aid truck helps Hamas

Hagvura Forum for hostages' families and bereaved families urges Israeli government to end aid to Hamas. 'Every additional truck provides oxygen to Hamas.'

How Israel did the impossible - and brought all the hostages home

History offers no guarantees, but it does record moments when nations - bound by pain, pressure, and purpose - achieved what seemed implausible or even impossible. Opinion.

IDF commander tells all:

How the IDF recovered Ran Gvili's body

In an Arutz Sheva interview, the deputy commander of the IDF Rabbinate combat unit recounts Operation Courageous Heart to recover Ran Gvili.

Shield of Alumim

Final hostage, Ran Gvili, is laid to rest

Prominent figures speak at funeral of last hostage, fallen Yasam officer Ran Gvili, who was laid to rest in his hometown of Meitar.

Watch:

Idan Amedi's stirring performance at Ran Gvili's funeral

After participating in the operation to recover Ran Gvili's body, actor and singer Idan Amedi took the stage at the final deceased hostage's funeral.

Released Hostage:

'With Ran back, it is time to focus on rehabilitation'

Relased hostage Segev Kalfon says he feels a sense of closure after the return of Ran Gvili.

Attempted attack during operation to locate Ran Gvili

Two terrorists approached reserve soldiers from the Alexandroni Brigade while they were conducting a search while attempting to locate the last hostage.

Danon removes hostage pin at UN Holocaust Remembrance Day

Israeli Ambassador reacts to the return of all hostages, criticizes UN for "failing test" by spreading hatred and antisemitism.

Sen. John Fetterman

'A reminder of each hostage was at my office until all were back'

Democratic senator from Pennsylvania says he will remove the posters of the hostages after more than 2 years now that they have all been returned.

Hersh’s parents mark return of last hostage

Rachel Goldberg-Polin and Jon Goldberg, parents of deceased hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin, mark last day of wearing masking tape numbers, send support to family of Ran Gvili, the last hostage returned to Israel.

Watch

The clock finally stops at Hostages Square

A special ceremony was held this evening (Tuesday) at the Hostages' Square in Tel Aviv, during which the symbolic clock was stopped at 17:35, marking the return of all the hostages to Israel.

Watch: The moving moments when Ran Gvili's body was discovered

IDF releases new footage of moment doctors identified the body of fallen Yasam fighter Ran Gvili - and the soldiers burst into tears.

Minister Cohen to Arutz Sheva

'No withdrawal before Gaza demilitarization'

In an interview with Arutz Sheva, Cabinet member Eli Cohen clarified that Israel will not withdraw from Gaza before Hamas is dismantled. According to him, security control will remain in Israeli hands.

Int. Holocaust Remebrance Day:

Return of the last hostage is ‘Never Again’ in action

81 years after the world refused to lift a finger to save Jews, and the Nazis reduced them to numbers tattooed on their forearms, the army of the Jewish State showed that every Jew matters and brought home one of its own. Opinion.

Emily Damari angered: 'We learned nothing'

Captivity survivor Emily Damari has released a video documenting an aid convoy on its way to the Gaza Strip and has strongly criticized the decision to allow the trucks to pass.

Watch: Shuli Rand and Agam Berger in a moving duet

Captivity survivor Agam Berger and Israeli singer Shuli Rand delivered a moving musical performance at a conference marking Holocaust Remembrance Day at Ono Academic College.

700 Graves Opened:

New details on the operation to recover Ran Gvili

IDF troops operated in the cemetery extensively without knowing that Ran's body was nearby.

What does it mean to keep Shabbat in captivity?

Captivity survivor Omer Shem Tov explains how he observed the Sabbath while in Hamas captivity.

Race Against Time:

Exclusive recounting of the operation to find Ran Gvili

An officer from the Yahalom special engineering unit describes working against a razor-thin deadline and under extreme conditions to extract the last hostage from Gaza.

'I knew it was Rani':

Dentist recalls identifying final deceased hostage

Dr. Esi Sharon described the emotional identification of Ran Gvili, as police forensic dentists examined hundreds of bodies within 24 hours to confirm the return of fallen hostages.

Jewish leaders welcome return of Ran Gvili

Conference of Presidents and AIPAC welcome the return of Ran Gvili’s body, praise US-Israel efforts while urging increased pressure on Hamas to disarm.

Jerusalem:

Ran Gvili’s picture projected onto National Institutions Building

National Institutions Building in Jerusalem illuminated in blue, with photos of Ran Gvili and the other returned hostages projected onto its façade.

Amit Segal:

'The next hostage is already among us'

Amit Segal warns that unless Israel fundamentally changes its approach to handling hostage situations, it will face future kidnapping attempts - and at a much higher cost.

Former gov't spokesman:

'Hostage crisis is over - but more kidnappings will come'

Eylon Levy says the October 7 hostage crisis is over, but warns Israel’s deals will encourage future kidnappings, urging new strategies to prevent more Israelis from being taken hostage.

Emotional moment:

Former hostages remove the ‘Bring Them Home’ pin

Watch former hostages in a moving gesture following the return of Ran Gvili’s body for burial in Israel. In the background: A song by Idan Amedi, who took part in the operation to recover Gvili’s body.

Ran Gvili's family speaks out:

Our pride is stronger than the sorrow

Speaking outside their home in Meitar, the Gvili family thanked the IDF, Israeli and US leaders, and the public following Ran Gvili’s return from Hamas captivity.

'Objective completed'

IDF Chief of Staff recites Shehecheyanu blessing

IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir and senior commanders saluted Master Sergeant Ran Gvili as his body was returned from Gaza, marking the completion of the mission to bring home all hostages.

Body of final hostage, Ran Gvili, returns to Israel

Ran Gvili, of blessed memory, has been identified and returned for burial. No hostages, alive or deceased, in Gaza the first time since 2014.

Trump to Israeli media:

Only Israelis truly understand significance of hostage returns

President Trump says Hamas aided efforts to recover Ran Gvili’s remains and says the group must now fulfill its pledge to disarm under his deal.

Shin Bet reveals new details:

The terrorist who led Israeli forces to Ran Gvili's body

The Shin Bet revealed that intelligence from the interrogation of an Islamic Jihad terrorist led to the identification and recovery of Ran Gvili’s body from a cemetery in northern Gaza.

At police ceremony

Ran's father over his casket: 'Proud of you my son'

Itzik, the father of the last hostage to be returned from Gaza, parted from him at a police ceremony upon his return.

'Most Thought This Impossible':

Trump celebrates return of final hostage

President Trump and other American officials joined Israel in welcoming the recovery of Ran Gvili.

Footage from Gaza:

IDF Chief and soldiers salute Ran Gvili

IDF Chief of Staff, the Southern Command chief, commanders, and soldiers from Division 252 in the Gaza Strip sing Hatikva and salute Staff Sgt. Ran Gvili, after his body was recovered in the Gaza Strip.

Behind Op. Courageous Heart

New footage from the mission to find Ran Gvili

Covert arrests and interrogations led IDF forces to a Shuja'iyya cemetery, where engineering teams inspected over 200 graves in a coordinated search operation.

'Mission accomplished'

Watch: Netanyahu recites Shehecheyanu blessing in the Knesset

Prime Minister Netanyahu commends the security forces upon the return of the last hostage from Gaza.

Israel Welcomes Ran:

Coalition and opposition celebrate the last hostage's return

Politicians from all sides of Israel's political spectrum expressed their happiness, pain, and relief that the last hostage had finally been returned from Gaza.

Watch:

IDF soldiers sing over Ran Gvili's casket

After recovering the body of the last hostage, Ran Gvili, IDF soldiers sang 'Ani Ma'amin', a song of faith in the coming of the Messiah.

No breakthrough in search for last hostage

IDF preparing support system for those digging up graves in effort to locate missing Yasam officer Ran Gvili.

PMO:

'Rafah crossing to open after operation to recover Gvili's body'

Following the Security Cabinet meeting, the PMO clarifies: The Rafah crossing will not open until all efforts to recover the body of Staff Sergeant Ran Gvili have been exhausted.

In northern Gaza cemetery:

IDF launches mission to search for Ran Gvili

IDF conducting extensive searches for remains of last hostage after reaching based on intelligence information.

Rafah Crossing

Witkoff hints: US, Israel coordinating on future steps

US envoy says talks were constructive as Washington and Jerusalem coordinate next steps on Phase 2 of Trump’s Gaza plan and broader regional issues

Talik Gvili:

'Rafah is a gift to Hamas - Rani is still not home'

Talik Gvili, mother of Staff Sgt. Ran Gvili, the last hostage held by Hamas: 'It seems that the Americans believe Hamas. I am worried, but I remain optimistic.'

'We won'

Naama and Karina look back on their first moments of freedom

Naama Levy and Karina Ariev told Galei Tzahal that Hamas’s staged release ceremony felt empowering, as they recall captivity, survival, and ongoing rehabilitation.