Hostages in Gaza

Biden meets 4-year-old freed hostage Abigail Idan

US President meets young US citizen who was kidnapped on October 7 and spent her fourth birthday in captivity in Gaza.

Protesters light fires, clash with police outside PM's Residence

Hundreds of demonstrators protested outside the Prime Minister's Residence in Jerusalem calling for the return of the hostages.

State Department:

FBI investigating veracity of Hamas hostage video

Principal Deputy Spokesperson for the US State Department, Vedant Patel, says the Biden Administration 'will not rest a single minute until Hersh Goldberg-Polin is reunited with his family.

Hostages' families:

'Govt. must stop dawdling, start pressuring Hamas'

Tikva Forum reacts to Hamas video showing Hersh Goldberg-Polin, says 'there are many pressure levers for the return of the hostages that have not been used.'

Hostage's parents:

Hersh, if you hear us, we love you, stay strong, survive

The parents of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, an Israeli hostage who appeared in a video published by Hamas on Wednesday, have released a video statement in which they call on all involved to work for the release of their son.

After Hamas hostage video

Families: Hostages' time is running out, must be top priority

Family of Hersh Goldberg-Polin gives permission to share video Hamas published of their loved one who has been held hostage for over 200 days.

Hamas publishes sign of life from hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin

Hershe, who was wounded and kidnapped from the Nova music festival on October 7. appears in Hamas-released video. His mother Rachel was recently named to the 2024 TIME100.

Intelligence sources confirm:

Sinwar has left his tunnel

The Hostage Families Forum said the fact that the Hamas leader was able to walk the streets of Gaza 'is the picture of Israeli failure.'

A critique of power

People take notice, for better or for worse, when someone dares to be different, and what we are going through today is simply 2024’s iteration of our daring to be different. Our strength is not determined by their might. Opinion

Watch:

Freed nine-year-old Emily Hand sings 'Ma Nishtana'

Nine-year-old Emily Hand, who was held hostage by Hamas and freed after 50 days, takes part in Kibbutz Be'eri Seder, sings "Ma Nishtana" with other children.

Hostage's father:

'We'll leave a seat for you in case you come home'

Zvika Mor, the father of Eitan Mor, who was kidnapped by Hamas terrorists on October 7, writes about celebrating Passover with his son in captivity, never losing hope.

Public diplomacy video:

The empty chair at the Passover Seder

Prime Minister's Office National Public Diplomacy Directorate launches new video seeking to raise awareness of the hostages being held by Hamas: No family in the world should celebrate like this.

IDF spox. to hostages:

'If you can hear me - we will fight until you return home to us'

Rear Admiral Hagari told Israelis that while forces are deployed along the entire length of the borders of Israel, they must remain vigilant during the holiday.

Mother of hostage:

'I can't imagine celebrating Passover without my son'

Ahead of Passover, the mothers of hostages called on the world to press for a deal so they could celebrate the holiday with their loved ones.

PM Netanyahu:

'Hamas refused all deals, we will soon hit them hard'

In a pre-Passover address, the Prime Minister commented on US threats to sanction the Netzach Yehuda Battalion: 'I will fight it with all my might.'

Report:

Israel fears less than 1/3 of hostages are still alive

Of the 133 people still held hostage by Hamas, Israel reportedly fears just 40 still live.

For the first time since Hamas's response:

War Cabinet will discuss the hostage deal

At the request of Ministers Benny Gantz and Gadi Eisenkot, the cabinet will convene to discuss the deadlock reached in the deal after Hamas's response to the mediators' proposal.

Sen. Fetterman:

'We must talk about the hostages until they come home'

Pennsylvania Senator vows to keep bringing up the issue of the hostages: If Hamas would send everybody home and surrender, all the death, destruction and misery in Gaza would end.

CIA Director:

'Hamas is to blame for stalled hostage deal talks'

CIA Director William Burns says Hamas was presented with “a far-reaching proposal” but has not accepted it.

Families of hostages block highway, attempt to start bonfire

Several dozen representatives of families of Israeli hostages and anti-government activists block Highway 1 at the Anava Interchange, right before Shabbat.

Military headstone placed on grave of accidentally slain hostage

The family of Alon Shamriz, who was killed by IDF fire after escaping Hamas captivity, has been fighting to have him fully granted as a fallen soldier.

Mother of hostage:

'He risked his life to save even the bodies of young girls'

Real Talk host Hadassah Chen speaks with the mother and brother of hostage Rom Braslavski.

New video shows Yarden Bibas being kidnapped to Gaza

Footage from October 7 shows father of youngest hostage being beaten as he is dragged into Gaza.

Tzohar Rabbinical org.:

Set a seat at the seder table for hostages

The Tzohar Rabbinical Organization is calling on Jews to leave an empty seat at their seder tables and to dedicate the fifth cup, traditionally known as Elijah’s Cup, to the hostages.

TIME names hostage's mother one of 100 most influential people

Rachel Goldberg-Polin's son Hersh Goldberg-Polin, was taken hostage by Hamas into Gaza on October 7th, where he, along with 132 others, remains held in captivity.

'Not constructive'

Qatar responds to US lawmaker's call to reevaluate relations

Qatari embassy in the US expresses surprise at comments made by Congressman Steny Hoyer regarding the Gaza hostage crisis and his threat to "reevaluate" the US relationship with Qatar.

Father of fallen hostage:

'My son fought with incredible bravery'

Rabbi Doron Perez, whose son was killed in action on October 7th and his body taken to Gaza, speaks about receiving the final news last month and urges the world not to allow soldiers to be forgotten during prisoner exchange negotiations.

Hostage in Gaza:

There was a photo of Gilad Schalit in the room where we were held

Noralin Babadilla, taken hostage from Kibbutz Nirim with her partner Gideon Babani: ‘It was hell. Everyday I thought they were going to kill us. I thought Gideon was alive. I prayed and spoke to him.’

Senior Hamas official:

'Israeli proposal is not a basis for moving forward with a deal'

Mahmoud al-Mardawi, one of the senior members of Hamas, emphasizes that it will not be possible to reach a deal to release the hostages unless all of Hamas' demands are met.

Mother of fallen hostage:

Not the soldiers' fault, glad Hamas didn't kill him

Iris Haim speaks about the honor given to her by the President for her son, a hostage killed by IDF fire as he tried to escape Hamas.

Hamas now offering to release just 20 hostages

Senior official says after Hamas rejected the latest ceasefire proposals, it offered to release half the number of hostages while demanding Israel free murderers.

President Herzog:

'A story of supreme bravery with a bitter end'

The President today honored the families of three hostages killed by an IDF soldier while escaping Hamas.

Hostage's uncle:

We can bring the hostages home by stopping all negotiations’

Uncle of Avinatan Or, held hostage by Hamas in Gaza: ‘The negotiations are aimed at restoring Hamas rule in Gaza. The hostages held by local clans will be released only when they understand that we are the sovereign.’

IDF Spokesman Hagari:

'Iran launched 60 tons of warheads and explosives at Israel'

Spokesman Hagari applauded international cooperation in thwarting the Iranian threat and noted: 'Even while under attack from Iran, we have not lost sight of our critical mission in Gaza to rescue our hostages from the hands of Iran's proxies Hamas.'

Hamas turns down another hostage deal

PMO says Hamas responded negatively to proposal in which Israel showed 'significantly degree of flexibility,' proving Sinwar not interested in a humanitarian deal.

Released hostage:

The terrorist turned to me and said "Welcome to Gaza"

Moran Stella Yanai spoke at the site of the Supernova festival at an event for thousands of bikers and families of the hostages.

MK Simcha Rothman threatened outside meeting

The families of hostages prevented MKs from entering meetings in Tel Aviv and declared that they would fault the coalition for failing to recover their loved ones.

Haniyeh claims:

'My sons weren't Hamas fighters'

Hamas leader says group is still seeking a hostage release deal despite the elimination of three of his sons in an air strike in Gaza.

'The wrong side of history'

Israel blasts new Irish PM's comments on Gaza

Foreign Ministry criticizes Ireland’s new Prime Minister, Simon Harris, after he fails to mention the hostages being held by Hamas while criticizing Israel's actions in Gaza.

Member of negotiation team:

'The government is not doing everything to return the hostages'

Anonymous officials from the negotiating team for the release of the hostages claim Netanyahu is thwarting a deal.

Report:

Egypt predicts hostage negotiations will fail

A senior Egyptian source said that there is no need for any extra time to proclaim the failure of the current round of negotiations since all signs point to this.

Hundreds outside PM's house:

'Only pressure on Hamas will bring back the hostages'

Protesters, including hostages' families and bereaved families, called for the intensification of the war against Hamas and for the IDF to enter Rafah.

Special interview

Douglas Murray: 'One truth can puncture a thousand lies'

Author and journalist Douglas Murray urges Israel advocates around the world not to give up, regardless of either ignorance or opposition in their audience.

Report:

Hamas unsure of whether it has 40 live hostages for prisoner swap

Does Hamas have enough living hostages to make a deal with Israel? Maybe not.

Special Passover seder calls for hostages' release

'Let Our People Go': At a special Passover Seder event in Kibbutz Nir Oz, relatives urge unconditional release of hostages. 'For the families of the 133 hostages, there will not be a holiday without their loved ones.'

Freed hostage:

'I was kidnapped by civilians who sold me to Hamas'

Nurse recounts how she was kidnapped from her home by armed Gaza civilians and sold to Hamas terrorists before being taken to a tunnel with other hostages.

Deri's wife:

'Netanyahu is not motivated by political considerations'

Yaffa Deri, wife of Shas chairman Aryeh Deri, denies claims that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is motivated by political considerations when he mulls a deal for the release of hostages.

Minister Amichai Eliyahu:

'We will oppose the release of terrorist murderers'

Heritage Minister clarifies that his party is expected to oppose any agreement to release hostages that would include the release of terrorists with blood on their hands.

More details:

One of Haniyeh's sons was involved in holding Israeli hostages

The IDF stated that the strike that killed three of the political bureau chairman's sons was not authorized by the Chief of Staff or the political echelon since was in 'real-time' against terrorists who were on their way to commit an act of terror.

Mother of hostage killed by accident writes letter to CoS

Iris Haim, mother of Yotam, hostage in Gaza who was killed by mistake by IDF fire, writes painful letter to Chief of Staff, following his decision to dismiss two officers after the World Central Kitchen incident in Gaza.

Toronto:

Posters depicting children hostages defaced with swastikas

Posters in Toronto depicting four-year-old Ariel Bibas and one-year-old Kfir Bibas vandalized with swastikas. Toronto Mayor condemns.

Harris to hostages' families:

'No higher priority than reuniting hostages with loved ones'

US Vice President meets families of Americans taken hostage by Hamas on October 7, provides update on US efforts to secure the release of all hostages.

Smotrich:

'Sinwar senses weakness, only pressure will return hostages'

Finance Minister claims that the only way to defeat Hamas is to keep hitting it and thus increase the pressure to return the hostages.

Minister Strock:

‘Now we must all pray for the return of the hostages’

A prayer for the return of the hostages was held at Rachel's Tomb. Shai Wenkert, father of Omer, who was taken hostage in Gaza: "Together we win, together we return the hostages."

Freed hostage tells MKs:

'If I'm in poor health, what will happen to those still there?'

Raz Ben Ami, who was released in November after 54 days in Hamas captivity, tells Knesset committee of her continuing suffering after being freed, fear for her husband, who is still a hostage.

Activists demand: Close UNRWA offices in Jerusalem

Im Tirtzu activists, MK Boaz Bismuth, demonstrate living conditions of Israeli hostages held in Gaza, demand removal of UNRWA from Jerusalem.

Hostages' families skip Netanyahu, speak to Cabinet

Ministers Gallant, Gantz, Eisenkot, and MK Aryeh Deri were urged not to allow PM Netanyahu to hinder a deal for the return of hostages. Ben-Gvir and Smotrich were verbally attacked.

Likud MK:

'Netanyahu must keep his promise and destroy Hamas'

MK Nissim Vaturi says that he will demand answers to the hard questions Israelis are asking about the IDF decision to remove a large number of troops from Gaza.

Hamas:

'Despite Israeli intransigence, we will discuss the proposal'

Hamas says that Israel's proposal did not meet any of its demands, but its leadership will discuss it regardless.

Ahead of hostage release deal

Likud members demand Netanyahu hold a discussion

Seven members of Knesset from the Likud write letter to Netanyahu in which they demand that he hold a discussion in preparation for a hostage release deal.