Feb 28 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. Continue reading
Feb 26 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. Continue reading
Feb 22 Gaza ceasefire’s future unclear as Hamas frees last 6 living hostages under 1st phase of its deal with Israel By Wafaa Shurafa, Mohammad Jahjouh, Melanie Lidman, Associated Press Hamas on Saturday released the last six living hostages expected under the first phase of its ceasefire with Israel with a week remaining, as growing questions over the next phase clouded the fragile deal's future. Continue reading
Feb 21 Israel identifies remains of child hostages but says another body from Hamas is not their mother By Melanie Lidman, Josef Federman, Wafaa Shurafa, Associated Press The Israeli military says the remains of two child hostages have been identified but another body released by Hamas was not the boys' mother. Continue reading
Feb 20 Watch 5:37 Bodies of youngest kidnapped Israelis returned by Hamas as ceasefire holds By Geoff Bennett, Zeba Warsi Near Tel Aviv, three buses exploded in a parking lot in a suspected attack that further rattled Israel after the return of the remains of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza. A U.N. official called the taunting display during the… Continue watching
Feb 20 Returned bodies of 4 Israeli hostages believed to include mother with her infant and toddler By Mohammad Jahjouh, Wafaa Shurafa, Melanie Lidman, Associated Press The handover on Thursday was a grim reminder of those who died in captivity as the talks leading up to the truce dragged on for over a year. Continue reading
Feb 15 Israel and Hamas complete their latest exchange with 2 weeks left in ceasefire’s first phase By Mohammad Jahjouh, Melanie Lidman, Jalal Bwaitel, Associated Press Israel and Hamas completed the sixth exchange of hostages and hundreds of Palestinian prisoners on Saturday with just over two weeks remaining in the initial phase of their fragile Gaza ceasefire. Continue reading
Feb 13 Hamas says it will free 3 hostages as planned, paving the way to settle ceasefire dispute By Samy Magdy, Melanie Lidman, Associated Press Hamas says it will release the next group of three Israeli hostages as planned. That would pave the way toward resolving a major dispute over the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. Continue reading
Feb 12 Israel threatens ‘all hell will break loose’ is Hamas fails to free hostages as planned By Tia Goldenberg, Samy Magdy, Associated Press Israel’s defense minister says “all hell will break loose” if Hamas does not release three hostages as planned this weekend. Continue reading
Feb 11 Israel’s Netanyahu threatens to resume fighting in Gaza if hostages aren’t released Saturday By Josef Federman, Associated Press Hamas said Monday — and reiterated Tuesday — that it planned to delay the release of three more hostages after accusing Israel of failing to meet the terms of the ceasefire, including by not allowing enough tents and other aid… Continue reading