hostages

January 26, 2025, 12:06 am

4 female soldier hostages freed by Hamas, paraded on Gaza stage, returned to Israel

Karina Ariev, Daniella Gilboa, Naama Levy, Liri Albag reunite with parents; Israel cancels planned return of Gazans to north, demands civilian Arbel Yehud’s release be ‘arranged’.

By Emanuel Fabian and TOI Staff and Agencies

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

Doron Steinbrecher is reunited with her family. Photo: IDF

January 20, 2025, 3:10 pm

Australian leaders react to release of hostages

Watching the women finally be embraced by their mums, "was an overwhelming and emotional moment across Israel and the Jewish world".

By AJN STAFF

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

Left: Mossad director David Barnea, the head of Israel's hostage-ceasefire negotiating team. Right: Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani. (Gil Cohen-Magen, Karim Jaafar/AFP/collage)

January 17, 2025, 1:14 pm

Israel and Hamas sign hostage-ceasefire deal after mediators iron out final kinks

The deal was announced Wednesday, but the negotiating teams continued meeting afterward in order to finalise implementation details, official says

By Jacob Magid

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks at the start of the weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem on August 18, 2024 (The Times of Israel: Screenshot/GPO)

January 16, 2025, 8:19 pm

Israeli cabinet delays vote on hostage-ceasefire deal as Hamas reneges on parts

'Hamas has reneged on parts of the agreement reached with the mediators and Israel in an effort to extort last-minute concessions'

Israelis react to the ceasefire announcement as they take part in a demonstration in Tel Aviv, Israel, January 15, 2025. Photo: AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg

January 16, 2025, 11:49 am

Gaza ceasefire deal: What it means for the Middle East

A deal to release the Israeli hostages from Gaza that leads to the end of the war would be a seminal event, likely redrawing the regional map

By Ran Porat

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

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

January 14, 2025, 6:08 pm

Naama Levy’s Australian cousin: ‘We’re waiting for good news’

According to officials, the first stage of the potential hostage deal would see Hamas release 33 'humanitarian' hostages

By Carly Adno