May 12 Who is Edan Alexander, the Israeli-American hostage released by Hamas? By Julia Frankel, Melanie Lidman, Associated Press Edan Alexander was 19 when Hamas militants stormed the Israeli military base where the American-Israeli from New Jersey was a soldier and dragged him into the Gaza Strip. Continue reading
May 12 Hamas says it has released American-Israeli hostage Edan Alexander By Wafaa Shurafa, Samy Magdy, Tia Goldenberg, Associated Press Israel says 59 hostages including Alexander remain in captivity, with about 24 of them said to be alive. Continue reading
Apr 04 Israeli strikes kill more than a dozen in Gaza as ground troops ramp up offensive in the north By Wafaa Shurafa, Associated Press At least 17 people, some from the same family, were killed after an airstrike hit the southern city of Khan Younis, according to hospital staff. Continue reading
Mar 06 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. Continue reading
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