Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

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

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton at a campaign rally in Melbourne on January 12. Photo: Facebook

January 16, 2025, 10:39 am

Dutton pledges to ‘mend’ Israel relationship

"In the first days of a Coalition government, I will call the Prime Minister of Israel to mend the relationship that Labor has trashed," Peter Dutton pledged.

By Sharyn Kolieb

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

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

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu during a press conference in Jerusalem on December 9. Photo: Yonatan Sindel/Flash90

December 12, 2024, 10:46 am

Bibi’s Albo attack ‘should not be dismissed’

"The burning of the Adass Israel synagogue in Melbourne is an abhorrent act of antisemitism," says Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

By Peter Kohn

US President Joe Biden announces a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, in the Rose Garden of the White House on November 26, 2024, in Washington. (The Times of Israel: Saul Loeb/AFP)

November 27, 2024, 10:43 am

Biden says Israel and Lebanon agreed to ceasefire, reveals it will take effect at 4 a.m. Israel-time

“This is designed to be a permanent cessation of hostilities,” he notes.

By Jacob Magid

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant salutes as a sign of respect to Israel's security forces at the end of a press conference and after he was fired by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, at the Ministry of Defense in Tel Aviv, November 5, 2024. (The Times of Israel: Reuters/Nir Elias)

November 6, 2024, 8:54 am

After being fired, Gallant says ‘moral darkness’ has engulfed country

“In these circumstances, there is no choice. Everyone must serve in the IDF, and participate in the mission of defending Israel.”

By LAZAR BERMAN

Israelis call for the release of hostages held captive by the Hamas terror group in Gaza, during a protest outside the Knesset in Jerusalem, November 4, 2024. (The Times of Israel: Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

November 6, 2024, 8:35 am

Netanyahu offering hostages’ captors millions of dollars, safe passage from Gaza

Hamas had rejected a proposal for a short-term ceasefire and hostage release deal.

By Emanuel Fabian, LAZAR BERMAN, JEREMY SHARON, Jacob Magid and AGENCIES

The Times of Israel: Social media/X; used in accordance with Clause 27a of the Copyright Law

September 30, 2024, 12:10 pm

Dozens of Israeli planes strike port, power plants in Yemen after Houthi missile attacks

Day after Houthis claim missile targeted PM’s plane at Ben Gurion Airport, IAF hits Hodeidah, Ras Isa port, where Iran-backed group said to receive arms, oil; Houthis say 4 killed.

By Emanuel Fabian

A video shows a man, left, just before he was injured by an explosion in Beirut on September 17, 2024. (The Times of Israel: Screen capture: X)

September 18, 2024, 8:56 am

Several killed, thousands injured as vast wave of pager explosions strikes Hezbollah

Terror group blames Israel, vows revenge; hospitals in Lebanon overwhelmed by wounded, including Iranian envoy, after unprecedented, coordinated attack amid surging war fears.

By GIANLUCA PACCHIANI, Emanuel Fabian, LAZAR BERMAN and TOI Staff and Agencies

Large crowds of Israelis call for an urgent deal to secure the release of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, outside the Defense Ministry headquarters in Tel Aviv, September 1, 2024. (The Times of Israel: Ohad Avrahami/Pro-Democracy Protest Movement)

September 2, 2024, 1:44 pm

Masses protest across Israel in flood of grief, anger after Hamas executes 6 hostages

Almost 300,000 rally in Tel Aviv in largest protest since Oct. 7, later clashing with police and blocking highway for hours as they demand Netanyahu agree to hostage-ceasefire deal.

By NOAM LEHMANN, GIANLUCA PACCHIANI, TOI STAFF and AGENCIES