Israeli hostages

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Hostage's Family Reacts to His Release: 'You Look Unbelievable'

Video emerges of 21-year-old Israeli American reuniting with mom, others after 584 days in captivity

(Newser) - On Monday, Hamas released the last living American-Israeli hostage , 21-year-old Edan Alexander, and now there's video of his emotional reunion with his family after 584 days in captivity, reports Mediaite .
  • Footage: In the clip posted by Axios' Barak Ravid, the New Jersey native is seen smiling as he's
...

Freed US Hostage Was Seized When He Was 19

New Jersey town celebrates release of Edan Alexander

(Newser) - Tenafly, New Jersey, is celebrating the release of Edan Alexander, the last living American hostage held by Hamas. Alexander, who was born in Israel and grew up in New Jersey, was 19 when he was seized in the Oct. 7, 2023, attack and is now 21. Hundreds of supporters gathered...

Hamas Releases Last American-Israeli Hostage

It's seen as a goodwill gesture toward the Trump administration

(Newser) - An American-Israeli soldier held hostage for more than 19 months in the Gaza Strip was released Monday, Hamas said, in a goodwill gesture toward the Trump administration that could lay the groundwork for a new ceasefire with Israel. There was no immediate confirmation from Israel, reports the AP . Edan Alexander...

Trump: 3 More Hostages Held by Hamas Are Dead

'There's 21, plus a lot of dead bodies,' he says

(Newser) - President Trump said Tuesday that three hostages held by Hamas in Gaza have died, leaving only 21 believed to be still living. "As of today, it's 21, three have died," Trump said of the hostages, noting until recently it had been 24 people believed to be living. He did not...

Hamas 'Lost Contact' With Group Holding Last Living US Hostage

Meanwhile, father of 21-year-old Edan Alexander has a lot to say about son's captivity in Gaza

(Newser) - Edan Alexander is believed to be the last living American citizen being held hostage in Gaza, but new fears have arisen after Hamas now claims they've lost contact with the group holding the 21-year-old. In a Tuesday statement, a spokesman for Hamas' military arm, the Qassam Brigades, said that...

Bodies of 4 Hostages Returned in More Tempered Exchange

Exchange appears to complete phase one of ceasefire

(Newser) - The first phase of Israel's ceasefire deal appears to be complete. The bodies of four hostages were handed over to the Red Cross in Israel early Thursday in exchange for the release of hundreds of prisoners. The BBC reports previous handovers "have involved a staged ceremony orchestrated by...

Israelis Line the Streets Holding Signs That Say 'Sorry'

Funerals for Shiri Bibas and her sons were held Wednesday

(Newser) - No Israeli government representatives were invited to the Wednesday funerals for Shiri Bibas, 32, and sons Ariel and Kfir, who were killed while being held hostage by Hamas. But Israeli citizens came out in droves, lining roads and overpasses while holding orange balloons and handmade signs reading "sorry" and...

'Brutally Murdered': Shiri Bibas' Body Returned

The body of the young mother was supposed to be returned the day before

(Newser) - The family of Israeli hostage Shiri Bibas says Hamas finally released her body overnight on Friday after the mother of two was murdered while held captive in Gaza, reports the Times of Israel . This comes after Hamas promised to hand over her remains on Thursday, then supplied the body of...

Israel Alleges Ceasefire 'Violation of Utmost Severity'

Says the mother of Hamas' youngest hostages was not among the bodies returned

(Newser) - Hamas said it returned the bodies of the two youngest Israeli hostages , as well as their mother and an unrelated adult, on Thursday. But now Israel's military says forensic testing of the remains shows that the body of Shiri Bibas, the mother of young Ariel and Kfir Bibas, was...

It May Be a Defining Image of the Gaza War

Hamas holds propaganda ceremony before returning bodies of youngest hostages

(Newser) - Hamas returned the bodies of four Israeli hostages on Thursday after a grim propaganda ceremony. In what NBC News reports is likely to be one of the defining images of the war, the caskets were displayed on a stage in front of a banner with photos of the hostages and...

Hamas Confirms 2 Youngest Hostages Are Dead

Bodies of Kfir, 9 months, and Ariel Bibas to be returned, along with their mother's body

(Newser) - When Hamas returns the bodies of four hostages this week, they'll include the two youngest hostages taken, reports the BBC . The group said three of the four bodies are those of Shiri Bibas and her two children—Kfir, who was 9 months old when abducted in October 2023, and...

Report: Hamas Will Hand Over Hostages' Bodies This Week

Followed by 3, or maybe 6, living hostages this weekend, sources say

(Newser) - Israel is preparing to receive the bodies of four hostages from Hamas Thursday, an Israeli security official tells news outlets including the Times of Israel , the Jerusalem Post , and Reuters . In addition, sources tell NBC News Israel and Hamas are in talks to double the number of living hostages released...

Gaunt Hostages Raise Alarm for Fate of Those Still Captive

Conditions of those held by Hamas appear to be brutal

(Newser) - The emaciated condition of the three hostages released by Hamas last weekend is raising concerns about whether the remaining hostages can survive much longer in captivity. Those concerns have been amplified by new threats to the ceasefire agreement that might derail future releases. Coverage:
  • The gaunt men released Saturday said
...

Israel, Hamas Make New Round of Exchanges

Hamas frees 3 hostages, as Israel releases 183 Palestinians

(Newser) - Hamas freed three hostages in the southern Gaza Strip on Saturday and Israel released 183 Palestinian prisoners in the fourth round of exchanges during the Gaza ceasefire. Israel and Hamas are set next week to begin negotiating a second phase of the ceasefire, which calls for releasing the remaining hostages...

Last Female Israeli Soldier Held Is Freed to Jeers

Chaotic scene unfolds in Gaza

(Newser) - Hamas-led militants freed eight hostages on Thursday in the latest release since a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip took hold earlier this month. Israel was expected to release another 110 Palestinian prisoners, reports the AP . The release was delayed by a chaotic scene in which a crowd of Palestinians surrounded...

Hamas: 8 Hostages of First 33 to Be Freed Are Dead

As Israeli doctor says 7 most recently released women are 'not in a good shape'

(Newser) - Israel says a Hamas list released overnight shows that eight of the 33 hostages to be freed in the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire are dead, reports the AP . The next release of hostages is scheduled to take place on Thursday, followed by another on Saturday. Whether hostages are...

6 More Israeli Hostages to Be Freed This Week

Including Arbel Yehoud, civilian at the center of Israel-Hamas disagreement

(Newser) - Six more Israeli hostages will be released by Hamas this week, including Arbel Yehoud, the civilian that Israel said was supposed to have been released Saturday . Israel vowed not to let Palestinians start returning to the northern part of Gaza until she was freed, but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later...

Next Group of Hostages to Be Freed: Female Soldiers

Set for release Saturday are 4 young women captured from Nahal Oz military base on Oct. 7

(Newser) - Last Sunday, the first three Israeli hostages were released by Hamas under a newly negotiated ceasefire with Israel. Now, the names of four Israeli soldiers, all women, who are set to be freed this coming weekend have been announced, reports the AP . The soldiers were stationed at the Nahal Oz...

3 Israeli Hostages Received 'Gift Bags' From Hamas

'Undoubtedly bizarre' packages are said to have included certificate, photos of the women in captivity

(Newser) - As more details on the Israeli hostages released by Hamas over the weekend continue to trickle out , one "undoubtedly bizarre" revelation has come to light, per CNN . The three women—Emily Damari, Romi Gonen, and Doron Steinbrecher—were set free on Sunday under the terms of a new ceasefire,...

Freed Israeli Hostage: I've 'Returned to Life'

Emily Damari spent 471 days in captivity, is 'the happiest in the world'

(Newser) - One of the Israeli hostages freed on the first day of the Gaza ceasefire said Monday in her first comments since being released that she has "returned to life." Emily Damari, 28, was one of three hostages freed Sunday after 471 days in captivity, reports the AP . Officials...

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