Hostage Deal

Emily Damari walks in to meet her family members at the Tel Hashomer Hospital in Ramat Gan, January 19, 2025. (Maayan Toaf/GPO)

January 23, 2025, 11:50 am

And they were not merely standing and walking but also, incredibly, in some of the very first clips and pictures, smiling.

By DAVID HOROVITZ

Doron Steinbrecher (in black) reunites with her family at Sheba Medical Center in Ramat Gan, January 19, 2025. (The Time of Israel: Maayan Toaf/GPO)

January 22, 2025, 10:02 am

First testimonies from freed hostages released

Former captives quoted saying they ‘were scared to death’ during Hamas transfer in Gaza City; some hardly saw daylight in 471 days; all of them knew what happened on October 7.

By TOI STAFF and JESSICA STEINBERG

January 20, 2025, 10:02 am

Romi, Emily and Doron home at last after 471 days

Masked Hamas gunmen hand women over to Red Cross in midst of raucous crowds in Gaza City; women meet their mothers at IDF facility near Gaza, before transfer to hospital.

By Emanuel Fabian and TOI Staff and Agencies

From left: Romi Gonen, Emily Damari and Doron Steinbrecher (Courtesy)

January 19, 2025, 11:30 pm

Ceasefire takes effect after Hamas names the three women hostages to be freed Sunday

Romi Gonen, Emily Damari and Doron Steinbrecher to be freed on first day of truce after Hamas delayed list of names; will be met by IDF representatives, doctors, psychologists.

By Emanuel Fabian, TOI Staff and Agencies and AMY SPIRO

January 19, 2025, 7:57 pm

Hamas says will release hostages Romi Gonen, Emily Damari and Doron Steinbrecher today

The three civilian women were taken hostage on October 7, 2023, during the Hamas onslaught in which some 1,200 people were killed and 251 kidnapped to Gaza.

By Emanuel Fabian

A woman and a little girl look at a mural showing female Israeli soldiers taken hostage during the October 7, 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel in Tel Aviv, Israel, January 18, 2025 (The Times of Israel: AP Photo/Oded Balilty)

January 19, 2025, 9:59 am

Hours before Gaza ceasefire set to start, PM stresses right to resume war after ‘pause’

As of Saturday night, Israel was still awaiting list of names from Hamas of the three women hostages to be freed Sunday afternoon; Netanyahu says deal won’t move forward without it.

By Emanuel Fabian and TOI Staff and Agencies

The 33 houstages set to be returned in phase one of the Gaza ceasefire deal. Row 1 (L-R): Romi Gonen, Emily Damari, Arbel Yehud, Doron Steinbrecher, Ariel Bibas, Kfir Bibas, Shiri Bibas; Row 2: Liri Albag, Karina Ariev, Agam Berger, Danielle Gilboa, Naama Levy, Ohad Ben-Ami, Gadi Moshe Moses; Row 3: Keith Siegel, Ofer Calderon, Eli Sharabi, Itzik Elgarat, Shlomo Mansour, Ohad Yahalomi, Oded Lifshitz; Row 4: Tsahi Idan, Hisham al-Sayed, Yarden Bibas, Sagui Dekel-Chen, Yair Horn, Omer Wenkert, Sasha Trufanov; Row 5: Eliya Cohen, Or Levy, Avera Mengistu, Tal Shoham, Omer Shem-Tov (all photos courtesy)

January 18, 2025, 11:12 am

These are the 33 hostages set to be returned in phase one of the Gaza ceasefire

Families of the captives have been notified, though it is not yet known who among the 33 is alive and who is not.

By TOI Staff and Agencies

Demonstrators react after a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas was announced. Photo: Itai Ron/Flash90

January 16, 2025, 11:11 am

Australian leaders react to hostage and ceasefire deal

"The Jewish world will never forget the sacrifices made by Israeli servicemen and women, including 407 who made the ultimate sacrifice," said Alex Ryvchin.

By AJN STAFF

Police tape around the Torah-shaped door handles of the Adass Israel synagogue after it was fire bombed.

January 16, 2025, 8:06 am

Action now

Our Prime Minister insists he has done everything he can to curb the problem. ECAJ co-CEO Alex Ryvchin says he can do more.

By AJN STAFF

Demonstrators embrace each other after the ceasefire and hostage release agreement between Israel and Hamas was reported, Tel Aviv, January 15, 2025. (The Times of Israel: Jack GUEZ / AFP)

January 16, 2025, 7:16 am

After 15 months of war, Israel and Hamas agree to a ceasefire-hostage release deal

Officials from all sides confirm agreement, expected to take effect Sunday; security cabinet is to meet Thursday morning to approve the accord.

By TOI STAFF, AGENCIES, Jacob Magid and AMY SPIRO

January 16, 2025, 7:00 am

A nation prays

Naama Levy’s cousin Zack Shachar told The AJN he is feeling “optimistic” about the prospects of a hostage deal.

By Carly Adno

Pictures in Jerusalem of Israelis held hostage by Hamas terrorists in Gaza, January 13, 2025. (The Times of Israel: Chaim Goldberg/ Flash90)

January 15, 2025, 7:23 am

Gaza ceasefire-hostage deal on brink of finalisation, as reports spell out details

Conflicting news on whether Hamas has okayed mediators’ draft; IDF reportedly to immediately leave Netzarim Corridor, with Qatar, Egypt monitoring Gazans heading north using X-ray.

By Michael Bachner, TOI STAFF and AGENCIES and JACOB MAGID

Demonstrators protest calling for the release of Israeli hostages held in the Gaza Strip outside IDF headquaters in Tel Aviv, January 13, 2025.(The Times of Israel: Itai Ron/Flash90)

January 14, 2025, 10:25 pm

Gaza ceasefire and hostage release updates

Reports on a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release agreement, with negotiations continuing and final approval pending from key parties.

By TOI STAFF

People walk past pictures of the hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, in Jerusalem, January 12, 2025. (The Times of Israel: Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)

January 14, 2025, 9:51 am

Israeli officials say hostage-ceasefire deal is close, awaiting final Hamas approval

‘Final’ draft presented to sides, Israel said to broadly accept it; Hamas says freedom near for its security prisoners; Smotrich calls it a ‘catastrophe’; Lapid, Gantz back it.

By Agencies and TOI Staff

People attend a rally calling for the release of Israelis held hostage by Hamas terrorists in Gaza, at Central Park in New York City, on January 12, 2025. (The Times of Israel: Arie Leib Abrams/Flash90)

January 13, 2025, 12:40 pm

Biden stresses ‘immediate need’ for hostage-truce deal in call with Netanyahu

PM said to meet with far-right coalition members to gauge support for agreement; negotiators reportedly believe next two days critical to determine if deal is achievable.

By Jacob Magid and TOI STAFF