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Six freed hostages reunite with families, head to hospital for treatment

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
The six freed hostages are seen ahead or following their release from Hamas captivity in Gaza (photo credit: CHAIM TZACH/GPO, IDF SPOKESPERSON'S UNIT, MAAYAN TOAF / GPO)
The six freed hostages are seen ahead or following their release from Hamas captivity in Gaza
(photo credit: CHAIM TZACH/GPO, IDF SPOKESPERSON'S UNIT, MAAYAN TOAF / GPO)

Hamas forced Evyatar David, Guy Gilboa-Dalal to watch as fellow hostages get released

Evyatar David and Guy Gilboa-Dalal were forced to watch the terrorist organization's staged release ceremony for three freed hostages.

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
 (L-R): Images of Evyatar David and Guy Gilboa-Dalal (photo credit: Canva, Chen Shimmel, REUTERS/GUGLIELMO MANGIAPANE)
(L-R): Images of Evyatar David and Guy Gilboa-Dalal
(photo credit: Canva, Chen Shimmel, REUTERS/GUGLIELMO MANGIAPANE)

Hamas forced Evyatar David and Guy Gilboa-Dalal to watch as six other hostages were released from captivity on Saturday.

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Freed hostages starved underground, forced into humiliating rituals, one disguised as Muslim woman

The six freed hostages endured months of isolation, abuse, and deprivation in Hamas’s underground tunnel network.

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
The six freed hostages are seen ahead or following their release from Hamas captivity in Gaza (photo credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON'S UNIT, JAMAL AWAD/FLASH90, YONATAN SINDEL/FLASH90)
The six freed hostages are seen ahead or following their release from Hamas captivity in Gaza
(photo credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON'S UNIT, JAMAL AWAD/FLASH90, YONATAN SINDEL/FLASH90)

Released hostage Omer Shem Tov was forced to disguise himself as a Muslim woman and lowered into an underground tunnel in a bucket. He was spit on, cursed, and compelled to kiss his Hamas captors in a staged ceremony.

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'Torture camp' captivity left freed hostage Hisham al-Sayed destroyed, father says

"He looks as if he had been in a torture camp for 10 years...emotionally and mentally destroyed," his father, Sha'ban, told KAN Reshet B.

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
Hisham al-Sayed reunites with his father after returning from a near decade in Gaza captivity, February 22, 2025 (IDF SPOKESPERSON'S UNIT)

Former hostage Hisham al-Sayed, who is reportedly suffering from schizophrenia, along with a “personality disorder” and other conditions, is struggling to communicate after his Saturday release, his father revealed.

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Shiri Bibas was not killed by IDF airstrike, forensic evidence confirms

“We were met with depths of evil and malice that could not be conceived," Dr. Kugel said.

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
 IDF soldiers recover Shiri Bibas's remains on Saturday February 22, 2025.  (photo credit: IDF SPOKESMAN’S UNIT)
IDF soldiers recover Shiri Bibas's remains on Saturday February 22, 2025.
(photo credit: IDF SPOKESMAN’S UNIT)

The forensics team that identified Shiri Bibas's body confirmed that she did not die in an Israeli airstrike as Hamas had previously claimed. 

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Terrorists attack Israelis with clubs and stones

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
  (photo credit: MOHAMMED SALEM/REUTERS)
(photo credit: MOHAMMED SALEM/REUTERS)

Several terrorists, armed with clubs, a knife, and stones, attacked Israeli civilians near Deir Dibwan and then fled the scene, the IDF reported on Saturday. 

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IDF strikes crossing on Syria-Lebanon border Hezbollah used to smuggle weapons

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
  (photo credit: IDF SPOKESMAN’S UNIT)
(photo credit: IDF SPOKESMAN’S UNIT)

The IDF struck Syria-Lebanon border crossings that Hezbollah was using to smuggle weapons into Lebanon, the military announced Saturday night. 

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PMO: Palestinian prisoners release to be postponed due to Hamas violations of deal

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
 breaking news (photo credit: JPOST STAFF)
breaking news
(photo credit: JPOST STAFF)

Israel is expected to postpone the release of the Palestinian prisoners, who were set to be exchanged as part of the ceasefire-hostage deal between Hamas and Israel, due to Hamas's repeated violations, according to the Prime Minister's Office on Saturday night. 

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Palestinian prisoners expected to be released in ceasefire-hostage deal after delay - report

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
 breaking news (photo credit: JPOST STAFF)
breaking news
(photo credit: JPOST STAFF)

Israel is expected to release the Palestinian prisoners, who were expected to be exchanged as part of the ceasefire-hostage deal between Hamas and Israel, during the overnight between Saturday and Sunday, according to a Maariv report citing sources familiar with the matter.

The report of the expected release comes after a delay in the prisoner exchange due to Hamas initially failing to return the body of Israeli hostage Shiri Bibas on Friday. 

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PM Netanyahu spoke to Hisham al-Sayed's father

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke Saturday evening with Sha'ban al-Sayed, the father of Hisham al-Sayed, who was released today from Hamas captivity.

"I promised you that we would bring him back, and we moved heaven and earth. Now, we will do what is necessary to receive him properly and take care of him."

The prime minister told Sha'ban al-Sayed that he regretted that it took so long to bring his son home. 

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'Every prayer of yours was felt': Eliya Cohen shares first post since release

He emphasized that he would join the fight to bring back the remaining hostages from Gaza.

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF

Released hostage Eliya Cohen posted for the first time on social media since returning from Gaza on Saturday. 

"May the memory of all those who fell on October 7 be blessed. May the memory of every soldier who sacrificed their life for my return be blessed," he wrote. "Thank you very much to everyone who donated and went out to fight for me. Every prayer of yours was felt in my heart and strengthened me every moment anew.

"We must not forget our brothers who were left behind, and soon, I will join you in the fight for them. I love you guys."

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Israel at war: What you need to know


  • Hamas launched a massive attack on October 7, with thousands of terrorists infiltrating from the Gaza border and taking some 240 hostages into Gaza.
  • Over 1,200 Israelis and foreign nationals were murdered, including over 350 at the Re'im music festival and hundreds of Israeli civilians across Gaza border communities.
  • 69 hostages remain in Gaza.
  • 49 hostages in total have been killed in captivity, IDF says.
  • The IDF launched a ground invasion of Lebanon on September 30.
  • The Israel-Lebanon ceasefire came into effect on November 27 at 4:00 a.m.
  • Netanyahu confirmed the first phase of the Israel-Hamas Ceasefire on January 17, 2025
  • 735 terrorists will be released as part of the hostage deal