hostages

A look at the hostages left in Gaza, by the numbers

By Associated Press

Israelis celebrated the return of the last 20 living hostages who were held in Gaza under the first phase of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire.

Israel receives remains of 2 more hostages as military says another body was not that of a hostage

By Sam Metz, Samy Magdy, Wafaa Shurafa, Associated Press

The confusion added to tensions over the fragile truce that has paused the two-year war.

Israel says it expects hostages, Palestinian detainees to be released on Monday

By Samy Magdy, Sarah El Deeb, Melanie Lidman, Associated Press

While both Israelis and Palestinians in Gaza welcomed the initial halt to the fighting and plans to release the hostages and prisoners, the longer-term fate of the ceasefire remains murky. Key questions about governance of Gaza and the post-war fate…

What world leaders said after Trump announced first steps in Israel-Hamas agreement

By Elena Becatoros, Associated Press

World leaders on Thursday expressed hope for peace and urged Israel and Hamas to fulfill their commitments in the hours after President Donald Trump announced that the parties had agreed to the “first phase” of a deal signaling a major…

Nigerian military airstrikes free 76 hostages, including children and kidnapping victims

By Dyepkazah Shibayan, Associated Press

At least 76 hostages, including children, have been freed after Nigeria’s military targeted militants with precision airstrikes in the country’s northwest, local authorities said.

Israel recovers remains of three more hostages from Gaza

By Tia Goldenberg, Samy Magdy, Associated Press

The Israeli military identified the remains as those of Yonatan Samerano, 21; Ofra Keidar, 70; and Shay Levinson, 19. Hamas is still holding 50 hostages, less than half of them believed to be alive.

Trump says only 21 hostages held by Hamas in Gaza are still believed to be alive

By Associated Press

“As of today, it’s 21, three have died,” President Donald Trump said Tuesday.

Brushing off Trump’s threat, Hamas says it will only free hostages for a lasting truce

By Samy Magdy, Associated Press

The militant group accused President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of trying to back out of the ceasefire agreement they reached in January.

Israeli mourners bury returned hostage as talks start for ceasefire future

By Julia Frankel, Associated Press

Tsachi Idan’s body was one of four released by Hamas overnight Wednesday to Thursday, in exchange for over 600 Palestinian prisoners, the last planned swap of the ceasefire’s first phase, which began in January.

Hamas will return bodies of 4 Israeli hostages and receive hundreds of prisoners in exchange

By Samy Magdy, Melanie Lidman, Associated Press

Israel has delayed the release of about 600 Palestinian prisoners since Saturday to protest what it says is the cruel treatment of hostages during their release by Hamas.