Hostages
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)
Israel at war
Netanyahu OKs talks based on US proposal to free 11 living hostages
By Joshua Marks
The Witkoff plan also calls for the release of half of the deceased captives held by Palestinian terrorists in Gaza.
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
The family of Edan Alexander, an American held captive in Gaza, protests for his release in December 2024 in New York City. (Alon Kaplun)
March 14, 2025, 9:36 am
Hamas says it will release Edan Alexander and bodies of 4 dual-national hostages
There are four hostages among 35 known to be dead who held American citizenship.
By Philissa Cramer
Children and their teachers and parents dressed up for Purim, some as Batman in honor of the slain Bibas brothers, at the Gabrieli Carmel School in Tel Aviv, March 13, 2025.(Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90)
March 13, 2025, 9:48 am
Children in Israel and beyond are dressing as Batman for Purim to honor the slain Bibas brothers
Ariel Bibas, who was 4 when he was abducted on Oct. 7 and was killed in captivity, was a major Batman fan.
By Philissa Cramer
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
Yael Alexander, mother of hostage Edan Alexander, speaks to The Times of Israel on Feb. 23, 2025 (Jessica Steinberg/Times of Israel)
March 5, 2025, 2:03 pm
In 1st, US holding secret direct talks with Hamas to free American hostages, end war
Trump’s envoy talking directly to terror group in Qatar, despite US’s designation of Hamas as terror group; US consulted Israel on idea, but not all aspects of talks
By Jacob Magid and ToI Staff
Shlomo Mantzur (Photo courtesy of the Hostages and Missing Families Forum)
March 4, 2025, 2:16 pm
Murdered hostage Shlomo Mantzur laid to rest
The kibbutz described his death as a profound loss, calling him the “beating heart of Kissufim.”
By By JNS Staff
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, IDF chief Herzi Halevi (left), Defense Minister Israel Katz (second from right) and IAF chief of staff Omer Tischler (right) in the military headquarters in Tel Aviv on December 26, 2024. (Kobi Gideon/GPO)
March 2, 2025, 8:37 am
Israel endorses new US plan for half of hostages to be released now, ceasefire maintained
As phase 1 period ends, PM’s office backs what it says is Witkoff proposal for permanent ceasefire and all hostages freed by end of Passover; Hamas: Israel reneging on deal
By Lazar Berman and ToI Staff
Kfir Bibas and his mother Shiri Bibas, who were abducted to Gaza by Hamas terrorists, along with Kfir’s brother Ariel and father Yarden, from Kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7, 2023. (Courtesy via The Times of Israel)
February 28, 2025, 10:02 am
Eyes wide open
On a day that has become so perverted and propagandized, the Bibas family shines as a neon-orange marquee of the impossible to deny horror that took place.
By Sarah Kendis
Top row (L-R) Tsahi Idan and Ohad Yahalomi; Bottom row (L-R) Itzik Elgarat and Shlomo Mantzur (Courtesy)
February 26, 2025, 8:42 pm
After logjam, Hamas releases 4 hostage bodies to Israel in quiet, late-night transfer
Israel starts releasing over 600 prisoners who were slated to be freed Saturday, but source says they won’t all be released until the bodies are ID’d
By ToI Staff
Yarden Bibas speaks at the funeral of his wife and sons, murdered in captivity in Gaza and returned to Israel after 16 months, Feb. 26, 2025. (Screenshot)
February 26, 2025, 8:25 am
‘I’m sorry I couldn’t protect you all,’ Yarden Bibas tells his sons and wife at their funeral
Thousands of Israelis lined the streets as Shiri, Kfir and Ariel Bibas, who were killed in Hamas captivity, were buried.
By Philissa Cramer
Relatives of recently freed hostages Tal Shoham, Omer Wenkert, Eliya Cohen, and Omer Shem Tov hold a press conference at the Rabin Medical Center on February 23, 2025. (Paulina Patimer/Hostages Families Forum)
February 24, 2025, 8:39 am
Shackled, starved, alone in tunnels: Families of freed hostages share new details
Father of Hisham al-Sayed says he returned a shell of a person after a decade in Hamas captivity; Netanyahu speaks to freed captives Sagui Dekel-Chen and Ohad Ben Ami
By Jessica Steinberg
Pictures of Shiri Bibas and her children Kfir and Ariel who are held hostage in Hamas captivity hang outside the protest tent calling for the release of Israeli hostages in the Gaza Strip, outside the Prime Minister's residence in Jerusalem, February 19, 2025. (Photo by Chaim Goldberg/Flash90 *** Local Caption *** אריאלכפירשיריביבסבית ראש הממשלהמשפחותחטופיםמלחמהחרבותברזלאוהל )מחאה
February 23, 2025, 2:35 pm
6 hostages released, last to come home alive under ceasefire’s 1st phase
Israel delayed the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, demanding confirmation of the next hostage release and an end to Hamas’ ceremonies.
By JTA Staff
In this image taken from video released by the IDF on October 26, 2024, military spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari announces that the IDF is conducting strikes on military targets in Iran. (Israel Defense Forces via AP)
February 21, 2025, 9:34 am
IDF spokesman: Hamas terrorists murdered Ariel and Kfir Bibas ‘with their bare hands’
"The terrorists did not shoot the two young boys — they killed them with their bare hands. Afterwards, they committed horrific acts to cover up these atrocities."
Israelis hold photographs of Shiri, Kfir and Ariel Bibas at a gathering calling for their release at Hostage Square in Tel Aviv, on November 28, 2023. (Miriam Alster/Flash90)
February 21, 2025, 9:24 am
IDF: Ariel and Kfir Bibas were murdered by Hamas but 3rd body is not their mother Shiri
On Friday morning, the boys’ aunt posted a grieving message on Facebook, vowing, “We are not giving up on your mom, Shiri.”
By Ben Sales
Dean Aseef, an Israeli shaliach (emissary) in Pittsburgh, spoke about hostage Alon Ohel at a vigil to mark 500 days since Oct. 7, 2023. (Photo by Toby Tabachnick)
February 20, 2025, 3:05 pm
Pittsburgh vigil marks 500 days of mourning, prayer and solidarity
“This has been what Jews have lived throughout history, celebrating in times of joy and standing together in difficult times." — Jeff Finkelstein, Federation president and CEO
By Toby Tabachnick
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