Israeli hostages

October 31, 2025 9:47 AM

Hamas hands over bodies of two Israeli hostages

Palestinian militant group Hamas handed over two bodies of deceased Israeli hostages on Thursday, a day after the tenuous Gaza ceasefire was shaken by a series of deadly Israeli strikes across the enclave. The bodies of hostages Amiram Cooper and Sahar Baruch were returned to Israel for burial after an identification process was completed, the Israeli military said in a statement late on Thursday. Under the ceasefire accord, Hamas released all living hostages in return for nearly 2,000 Palesti...

October 13, 2025 8:43 PM

PM Modi welcomes release of Israeli hostages, hails Trump’s peace efforts and Netanyahu’s leadership

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday welcomed the release of the remaining Israeli hostages held in Gaza for over two years, lauding the “unwavering peace efforts” of U.S. President Donald Trump and the “strong resolve” of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In a post on X, PM Modi said, “We welcome the release of all hostages after over two years of captivity. Their freedom stands as a tribute to the courage of their families, the unwavering peace efforts of President Trump ...

October 13, 2025 3:00 PM

Hamas publishes names of 20 Israeli hostages to be released

Palestinian group Hamas published on Monday the names of the 20 Israeli hostages to be released under the first phase of a ceasefire agreement with Israel. The names included Bar Abraham Kupershtein, Evyatar David, Yosef-Chaim Ohana, Segev Kalfon, Avinatan Or, Elkana Bohbot, Maxim Herkin, Nimrod Cohen, Matan Angrest, Matan Zangauker, Eitan Horn, Eitan Abraham Mor, Gali Berman, Ziv Berman, Omri Miran, Alon Ohel, Guy Gilboa-Dalal, Rom Braslavski, Ariel Cunio and David Cunio. -Reuters...

June 23, 2025 11:39 AM

Israeli forces recover bodies of three hostages from Gaza

Israeli forces have recovered the bodies of three hostages which had been held in the Gaza Strip since the Palestinian militant group Hamas' 2023 attack, the military and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday. The hostages were identified as civilians Ofra Keidar and Yonatan Samerano, and soldier Shay Levinson. All were killed on the day of the attack, on October 7, 2023, the military said. With their retrieval, 50 hostages now remain in Gaza, only 20 of whom are believed to be aliv...

April 2, 2025 2:03 PM

Israel to expand Gaza military operation with large-scale evacuations

Israel announced a major expansion of military operations in Gaza on Wednesday, saying large areas of the enclave would be seized and added to its security zones, accompanied by large-scale evacuations of the population. Israeli leaders have been encouraged by signs of protest in Gaza against Hamas, the militant group that has controlled the enclave since 2007, and the expanded operation appeared at least partly aimed at increasing civilian pressure on its leaders. In a statement, Defence Mini...

March 10, 2025 1:34 PM

Hamas says talks with US focused on release of American hostage in Gaza

Meetings between Hamas leaders and U.S. hostage negotiator Adam Boehler in recent days focused on the release of an American-Israeli dual national being held by the militant group in Gaza, a senior Hamas official told Reuters on Sunday. Taher Al-Nono, political adviser to the leader of the Palestinian group, confirmed the unprecedented, direct talks with Washington in the Qatari capital over the past week. "Several meetings have already taken place in Doha, focusing on releasing one of the dua...

January 26, 2025 7:03 AM

Israel-Hamas ceasefire: Freed Israeli hostages reunite with families

Four Israeli soldiers freed from Hamas captivity were finally reunited with their families in the latest round of releases under the Israel-Hamas ceasefire agreement. The freed hostages were Karina Ariev (20), Daniella Gilboa (20), Naama Levy (20), and Liri Albag (19). According to CNN, Hamas staged a show of force during the handover at Gaza City's Palestine Square, waving green flags and displaying a poster featuring current and former Israeli leaders alongside the word "failure." The gesture...

December 23, 2024 5:04 PM

Some gaps have narrowed in elusive Gaza ceasefire deal, sides say

Gaps between Israel and Hamas over a possible Gaza ceasefire have narrowed, according to Israeli and Palestinian officials' remarks on Monday, though crucial differences have yet to be resolved. A fresh bid by mediators Egypt, Qatar and the United States to end the fighting and release Israeli and foreign hostages has gained momentum this month, though no breakthrough has yet been reported. A Palestinian official familiar with the talks said while some sticking points had been resolved, the ...

June 4, 2024 3:57 PM

Four more Israeli hostages died in Gaza captivity, Israel’s military says

The Israeli military said another four Israeli hostages abducted by Hamas on Oct. 7 had died in captivity and that their bodies are being held by the Palestinian Islamist group. The four men were identified as Chaim Peri, 80, Yoram Metzger, 80, Amiram Cooper, 84, and Nadav Popplewell, 51. All four were filmed alive in hostage videos posted by Hamas. Hamas said that Popplewell had died of wounds sustained during an Israeli air strike when posting his video last month. Military spokesperson Rea...