hostages

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.

Hamas insisting on assurance that war will end

Hamas terror group unafraid and prepared for Israeli operation in Gaza, plans to reject hostage deal due to insistence on permanent ceasefire, complete withdrawal of IDF from Gaza, Al Akhbar says.

Haredi MK:

Hostage deal? 'We're trying not to get into that'

MK Pindrus says his party is not part of the bodies charged with making decisions on a prisoner swap.

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.

Proposal:

Condition negotiations on US commitment to support Rafah op.

Diplomatic-Security Cabinet to discuss proposal which would condition progress in hostage deal negotiations on a US commitment to support Israel's operation in Rafah.

Watch:

Israeli racing driver pays tribute to hostages

After coming in third in USF Formula 4 Championship, Israeli racing driver Ariel Elkin shows his helmet, which was covered with photos of hostages held in Gaza.

Hamas claims:

'We know the location of less than 40 hostages'

Hamas breaches the understandings reached in Paris, claims it knows the location of less than 40 hostages who are alive.

Emerging outline:

6-week ceasefire, 40 hostages released

Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman says he is "more optimistic" about the prospects for a ceasefire deal. The reported outline would see Hamas keep over 2/3 of the hostages it currently holds.

Gallant:

'We're prepared to make difficult decisions to get hostages back'

Defense Minister meets new soldiers, says 'we're at an opportune moment' to achieve a deal to free the hostages.

Hamas: No progress on talks for hostage deal

Hamas official claims 'no change' in Israel's position, insists there will be 'no flexibility' over terror group's 'main demands,' Reuters reports.

Released hostage tells CNN:

I learned my sister-in-law was abducted from Gaza TV

Yarden Roman-Gat, whose sister-in-law Carmel Gat is still hostage in Gaza, speaks with CNN about her own experiences and the family's worry for Carmel.

Ireland urges 'immediate and unconditional' release of hostages

Marking six months since Hamas' massacre of Israelis, Irish Embassy in Tel Aviv calls Hamas' actions 'reprehensible,' calls out terror group's sexual violence.

Reports in Egypt:

Progress made in hostage release talks

Egyptian official says Hamas and Qatar's delegations left Cairo and will return within two days to agree on the terms of the final agreement, while the Israeli and the US. delegations will leave within a few hours.

Emotional meeting between Sara Netanyahu and hostages' families

The Prime Minister's wife heard in a recording of the meeting saying to the families: "The messages that Sinwar hears in the Israeli media - strengthen him."

1st Africa visit since war:

Herzog visits Rwanda to call for release of hostages

President Isaac Herzog arrived in Kigali this morning for event marking 30 years since Rwanda, becoming the first Israeli leader to visit Africa since the outbreak of the war.

IDF spokesman: Hostage Elad Katzir was murdered in January

'High state of readiness' in northern Israel as IDF's Daniel Hagari promises Israel 'will not miss any opportunity to fulfill our supreme mission of bringing' remaining hostages back home.

Body of hostage Elad Katzir rescued from Gaza

The body of the abductee Elad Katzir, who was murdered in captivity by the Islamic Jihad terrorist organization, was rescued overnight from Khan Yunis.

IDF investigation reveals:

Hostage Efrat Katz was killed by IAF fire on 7/10

IDF presents summary of findings on IAF's conduct during the October 7 kidnapping of Efrat Katz from Kibbutz Nir Oz.

ANALYSIS:

Anti-PM protests threaten war effort, hostage deal, experts say

Anti-government demonstrations, which had been on a low flame since Oct. 7, burst forth with renewed ferocity this week. Analysis.

Hostage release talks

Report: CIA director to travel to Cairo this weekend

Axios reports that CIA director William Burns will travel to Cairo this weekend for talks with the chief of the Mossad and top Qatari and Egyptian officials in an effort to secure the release of hostages held by Hamas.

Report:

US promised Egypt: No Rafah op before mid-May

Reports say Israel promised not to conduct Rafah ground operation before May, has changed its position on number, identities, of terrorists to be released in prisoner swap.

Mediators must act vigorously, push Hamas to prisoner swap

Israeli negotiating team formulated updated prisoner swap proposal, mediators must take 'vigorous action regarding Hamas' to bring a deal to fruition, Prime Minister's Office says.

Released hostage:

Every girl in Hamas captivity suffers harassment

Women released from Hamas captivity testify to harassment by terrorists - and not just towards them. 'Men also suffer horrific torture - don't forget them.'

Daughter of hostage:

'Tel Aviv protest does not represent hostages' families'

Yarden Pivko - the daughter of Itzik Galernter, who was abducted by Hamas, claimed: 'There is exploitation by parties unrelated to the abductees.'

Ritchie Torres vows 'fierce urgency' to free hostages

Congressman Torres visits Hostages Families Forum in Tel Aviv during UJA-Federation of New York delegation to Israel, praises courage of hostages' families.

Israeli MLB coach shows solidarity with hostages

Alon Leichman, who serves as assistant pitching coach for the Cincinnati Reds, features glove with the words "Bring Them Home Now!" stitched on the outside.

Smotrich:

'The only person responsible for hostages' plight is Sinwar'

Finance Minister responds to calls for govt. to be more flexible in hostage talks and blame laid at PM for lack of a deal, says such calls and pressure make Hamas harden its positions.

Analyst:

Protest against Netanyahu is not in the name of all families

In the Hebrew sentence, 'The hostages' families demand Netanyahu resign,' one of the letters is extra - and makes all the difference, analyst Amit Segal says.

Report:

Israel agrees to swap terrorists for soldiers' bodies

Sources say Israel agreed to release re-arrested 'Shalit deal' terrorists in exchange for the bodies of IDF soldiers Hadar Goldin and Oron Shaul, who fell in 2014's Operation Protective Edge.

Families of hostages:

Netanyahu is blocking prisoner exchange agreement

Some of the families of the hostages have declared that Netanyahu is intentionally preventing a prisoner exchange deal and so they will work to replace him.

Hostage's mother calls on Israelis to demand 'a deal now!'

'Israeli society needs a victory, Israeli society needs a victory in which our light overcomes the darkness,' Shira Elbag, mother of hostage Liri Elbag, says at rally.

Released hostage: 19 women are being raped in Gaza

Aviva Siegel, wife of hostage Keith Siegel, says 'only hostages matter,' tells Israeli government 'do not dare' to bring delegation back from Qatar without a prisoner swap deal.

Released hostage: 'Hostages have no time, no air and no light'

Raz Ben Ami, released from Hamas captivity, urges Prime Minister to push for a deal at any price. 'Tell the negotiating team not to return without a deal.'

Parents of kidnapped soldiers:

'Netanyahu didn't tell us anything new'

Parents of kidnapped soldiers after their first meeting with the Prime Minister: Netanyahu is preoccupied with military security - not with civil security.

Murdered hostage's family:

'We won't have a funeral until his body is returned'

Dan Anteby, the father-in-law of Uriel Baruch, tells Arutz Sheva about the family's experience through months of uncertainty until they learned this week that he was killed.

PM to hostages' families:

'I won't leave anyone behind'

Netanyahu meets families of soldiers held hostage by Hamas, says he is " committed to returning everyone, all of them."

'Free the girls first'

Brother of kidnapped soldier sends message to Belgian FM

Salem Alatrash, brother of kidnapped soldier Mohammed Alatrash, meets Belgian Foreign Min., urges her to push for hostages' release.

Freed hostage recalls:

'They treated us like we were dogs, not human beings'

Louis Har, who was freed by the IDF along with Fernando Simon Marman last month, recalls the ordeal in an interview with the Daily Mail: They told us we had nowhere to return to.

Hostage Uriel Baruch murdered in captivity

IDF confirms Hamas murdered 32-year-old hostage kidnapped from Nova music festival and continues to hold his body.

'Alive or dead'

Herzog: We must get to Sinwar to free the hostages

'We must get to Sinwar - either alive or dead - so that we can see the hostages back home,' Israel's Pres. Herzog says.

Hamas' ultimate goal:

A forced ceasefire, without a hostage deal

UN Security Council resolution 'will isolate the State of Israel even more,' Israel's response to prisoner swap proposal 'does not answer any of the basic demands,' Hamas officials say.

Hamas rejects new proposal for hostage release deal

Hamas claims that "Israel did not respond to any basic demand" and therefore it was decided to reject the proposal put forward by the mediators last week.

New York:

Protesters in Central Park call for hostages' release

Demonstrators wear Batman masks and black capes, in honor of four-year-old Ariel Bibas and his baby brother Kfir, who were kidnapped on October 7.

Israeli official claims:

700 terrorists in exchange for 40 hostages

Israeli official says Israel agreed to release 100 terrorists serving life sentences in exchange for less than one-third of the hostages still in Gaza.

Hamas source claims negotiations for ceasefire collapsed

'Hamas position is stable, and it will never agree to accept the agreement Tel Aviv has put forward in a surrender deal,' source says.

Report:

Israel demanding return of Hadar Goldin, Oron Shaul

Israel seeking return of bodies of soldiers murdered and kidnapped 10 years ago, rejects Hamas demand 30 terrorists be freed for every freed female soldier.

Psychological terror:

Hamas claims hostage has died

Hamas spokesman claims one of the hostages died as a result of a lack of medicine and food. In accordance with the family's request, we refrain from publishing his name.

Former Minister:

'We hope our fallen son supports a deal'

Former Minister Izhar Shay asked permission this evening from his son, killed in action on October 7th, to support a prisoner exchange deal.

Israel clarifies: No breakthrough on prisoner swap

Israeli delegation agrees to US-proposed compromise on ratio of terrorists to hostages to be released in prisoner swap.

At rally for hostages' release, rabbi reads Purim megilla

Tens of thousands attend rally for hostages' release, hear Purim megilla. 'History is repeating itself, and it is in our hands to save our brothers and sisters.'

Rally for hostages: 'They won't return without a deal'

Released hostages Adina Moshe speaks at rally for hostages' release, claims PM Netanyahu 'abandoned' her.

New details emerge on potential hostage swap

Israel agreed to allow residents of northern Gaza to return home as part of prisoner swap deal, report claims.

Hostages' relatives to Biden:

'Push all parties to agree to the deal'

Relatives of 81 hostages being held by Hamas send letter to US President, urge him to press Netanyahu and all other parties to reach an agreement to secure the release of their relatives.

Blinken:

'Hostage release deal is very much possible'

Secretary of State optimistic that deal is close: If Hamas cares about the people it purports to represent, then it would reach an agreement.

Bereaved mother to protester:

'My son is kidnapped, and you're using his photo'

Ayelet Samerano, whose son Yonatan's body is held in Gaza, tells left-wing protesters, 'You don't care if they come back you want to bring down the government.'

Ben Gvir, Smotrich announced:

'If murderers are released, we'll leave the gov't'

TV report: Finance Minister and National Security Minister said in closed conversations that they would leave the government if terrorist murderers were to be released.

Video showing kidnapping of IDF soldier located

IDF finds video of the kidnapping of soldier Oz Daniel. Hamas edited the video so that it would appear that Daniel was kidnapped while he was still alive.

Report:

Sinwar now managing hostage deal negotiations

Hamas leaders abroad have no authority to make decisions, 'every comma, every period, will take 24-36 hours,' source says.

Former Minister:

'Release my son's murderer for hostages'

Former Minister Izhar Shay says he would be happy to watch the execution of the terrorist who murdered his son on October 7, but would prefer that he be released in exchange for hostages.