Cease-fire
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a televised address about Israel's decision to resume airstrikes against Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad targets in Gaza, March 18, 2025. (Screenshot/GPO)
March 18, 2025, 3:36 pm
Netanyahu says ‘from now on’ hostage talks ‘will be conducted only under fire’
According to Netanyahu, the terror group turned down all proposals to release more of the 59 hostages still held in Gaza.
By Lazar Berman
22 hostages are presumed to be alive and the status of two is uncertain: Top row, from left: Elkana Bohbot, Matan Angrest, Edan Alexander, Avinatan Or, Yosef-Haim Ohana, Alon Ohel. Second row, from left: Evyatar David, Guy Gilboa-Dalal, Bipin Joshi, Rom Braslavski, Ziv Berman, Gali Berman. Third row, from left: Omri Miran, Eitan Mor, Segev Kalfon, Nimrod Cohen, Maxim Herkin, Eitan Horn. Bottom row, from left: Matan Zangauker, Bar Kupershtein, David Cunio, Ariel Cunio, Tamir Nimrodi, Pinta Nattapong. (Hostages Families Forum)
March 16, 2025, 6:03 pm
Netanyahu OKs talks based on US proposal to free 11 living hostages
The Witkoff plan also calls for the release of half of the deceased captives held by Palestinian terrorists in Gaza.
By Joshua Marks
Released hostage Eli Sharabi meets with US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office on March 5, 2025. (White House/X)
March 6, 2025, 1:37 pm
US talks with Hamas said to hit snag after media leak
Negotiations largely focused on securing release of hostages with American citizenship, but US has also reportedly proposed 60-day ceasefire in exchange for release of 10 hostages
By Jacob Magid
Community members stand in solidarity with the hostages at a vigil in Squirrel Hill (Photo by Sandy Zell)
January 21, 2025, 1:00 pm
Local community members express cautious optimism over hostage deal
“It’s what everybody wished for, just to see those moms hugging their daughters."
By Toby Tabachnick
Republican presidential nominee, former U.S. President Donald Trump takes the stage during a campaign rally at the J.S. Dorton Arena, Raleigh, North Carolina, Nov. 4, 2024. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
January 19, 2025, 2:34 pm
Trump, hailing release of hostages, signals that he is committed to ceasefire
His Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, is reportedly considering a trip to Gaza.
By Ben Sales
US President Joe Biden speaks during a joint press conference with the German chancellor in Berlin, on October 18, 2024. (Photo by Tobias SCHWARZ / AFP) (Photo by TOBIAS SCHWARZ/AFP via Getty Images)
January 19, 2025, 2:26 pm
Joe Biden says ‘the guns in Gaza have gone silent,’ predicts Hamas will not regain power
Biden defended his support for Israel and said the hostage release and ceasefire were due to ‘pressure Israel built on Hamas’ with U.S. support.
By Ben Sales
From left: Romi Gonen, Emily Damari and Doron Steinbrecher (Courtesy)
January 19, 2025, 1:04 pm
Hostages Romi Gonen, Emily Damari, Doron Steinbrecher return to Israel 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
Rep. Summer Lee (Photo courtesy of summerlee.house.gov)
January 19, 2025, 9:34 am
Summer Lee calls for arms embargo against Israel, ignores Israeli suffering, in social media post about the cease-fire
Lee called for a cease-fire just nine days after Hamas' Oct. 7 attack on Israel
By Toby Tabachnick
Hostage families and supporters march on the first anniversary of Hamas’ October 7 onslaught to demand their loved ones’ release, near Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s residence on Jerusalem’s Aza Road, Oct. 7, 2024. (Noam Amir/Hostages Families Forum)
January 15, 2025, 9:44 am
The ‘deal’ would be a win for Hamas, Biden and Trump, but not for Israel
Hamas wants to be sure that it will remain in power in Gaza, that Israel will leave the Strip and that the remaining leaders will not be hunted down.
By Giovanni Giacalone
First responders stand next to a crater where a rocket fired from Lebanon hit an area in northern Israel's Haifa district on October 31, 2024 (Ahmad Gharabli/ AFP)
November 26, 2024, 4:30 pm
Israel and Lebanon agree to ceasefire in war with Hezbollah
The deal — which would be the longest ceasefire Israel has agreed to since Hamas invaded from Gaza on Oct. 7, 2023 — signals a new phase in Israel’s multi-front war.
By Ron Kampeas
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (R) meets with Mossad chief David Barnea, April 18, 2024. (Kobi Gideon/GPO)
August 18, 2024, 7:36 pm
Hamas rejects US hostage-ceasefire proposal as PM said to warn chance for deal ‘not high’
Reports say Israeli negotiators warn there’ll be no deal if Netanyahu insists on keeping IDF on Philadelphi Corridor; he retorts there’ll be no deal unless Hamas accepts demand
By Lazar Berman and ToI Staff
In 2024, Allegheny County Council weighed a resolution calling for President Joe Biden to endorse a cease-fire in Israel's war against the terrorist organization Hamas. (Photo by David Rullo)
May 3, 2024, 12:46 pm
How ceasefire resolutions on faraway Gaza are sowing seeds of hate in US cities
Jewish Americans say people are using public hearings as a platform to spew antisemitism – and free speech laws prevent local governments from doing anything about it
By Cathryn J. Prince
Etna council passed a resolution calling for a cease-fire in Israel’s war with the terrorist organization Hamas. (Photo by David Rullo)
April 19, 2024, 10:49 am
Etna Borough Council passes cease-fire resolution
Resolution passed despite chaotic discussion, confused bill
By David Rullo
IDF soldiers operate inside the Gaza Strip in an undated handout photo cleared for publication on April 9, 2024. (Israel Defense Forces)
April 9, 2024, 1:07 pm
Good truce deal on table, ball in Hamas’ court – top US diplomat
“Hamas could end all of this immediately and get a ceasefire that would benefit the people of Gaza and get the hostages home."
By Jacob Magid
Pittsburgh Councilmember Barbara Warwick would like to see the council call for a cease-fire in Israel's war against Hamas terrorists. (Photo by Matt Evans, courtesy of flickr.com)
March 20, 2024, 10:44 am
We must call for an end to all attacks on the people of Israel and Palestine
Pittsburgh City Councilmember Barbara Warwick calls for cease-fire in Gaza
By Barbara Warwick
Load More