On October 7, 2023, several Hamas terrorists infiltrated southern Israel and managed to take several hundred people back to Gaza as hostages, in addition to murdering over 1,200 people.
Their safety has been the subject of great concern to the Israeli public, who campaign for their release and safety as the IDF's war on Hamas continues. So far, several hostages have been released, most of them due to a ceasefire and prisoner exchange. Several hostages, including some who had been held captive by Hamas for several years prior to the war, were further released as part of the 2025 ceasefire and hostage release deal.
It is currently unknown exactly how many hostages are currently alive in Gaza.
Describing the new actions taken on Wednesday, Defrin said, “We stepped up [the invasion] to a new level to serve the goals of the war."
Noa Argamani and Ditza Or, hostage Avinatan Or's mother, spoke to diplomats about the urgent need for a hostage deal.
Of the 378 Israelis killed, 344 were civilians • Hamas took 44 hostage from music festival, 17 remain in Gaza including 11 still among living
Amit Soussana was honored by First Lady Melania Trump at the US State Department's 19th annual International Women of Courage Awards along with seven other women.
Former hostage Eliya Cohen reveals brutal captivity conditions and vows to fight for those still held in Gaza: "I promised Alon that until I meet him in Israel, it's not over."
Birthright’s 25th year marks a type of rebirth: new and growing volunteer programs are now bringing in roughly as many participants as its classic 10-day touring experiences.
The law’s passage has been hailed as a critical step in ensuring the well-being of families who have faced unimaginable trauma.
Bar's father, Tal, invited the public to mark Bar's birthday in a public ceremony at Hostages Square.
The hostages need to be brought home now, and the importance and duty to do so do not get diminished by internal strife, regardless of the strains.
Camesha, while working for the top hospital in the Portland metro region, said that she would not treat members of the Jewish community, stating that she "doesn't take care of animals."
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