Hostage Deal

Gaza war could have ended a year earlier, achieved more Hamas disarmament, ex-hostage chief says

An overlong war led to huge unnecessary losses in fallen soldiers and the death of up to 40 hostages, former lead hostage negotiations coordinator Maj.-Gen. (res.) Nitzan Alon said.

Former lead hostage negotiations coordinator Maj.-Gen. (res.) Nitzan Alon speaks at the Reichman University Conference, Herzliya, July 1, 2026.
RELEASED ISRAELI hostage Omri Miran, with his father Dani, October 28, 2025.

'You don't protect me': Former hostage's father shouts at Smotrich mid-speech

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich holds a press conference at the Finance Ministry in Jerusalem, May 19, 2026.

Smotrich claims hostages returned thanks to his opposition to earlier Gaza deal

 Protesters gather outside Sde Teiman detention facility after some of them broke in, after Israeli military police arrived at the site as part of an investigation into the suspected abuse of a Palestinian detainee, near Beersheba, in southern Israel, July 29, 2024.

Israel was unprepared for 10,000 Palestinian security prisoners during war, report finds


Guy Gilboa-Dalal endured 'nightmare' in Hamas captivity, freed hostage's father says

Ilan Dalal told N12 that despite the damage his son sustained in Hamas captivity, "slowly, with a lot of love and with family and friends around him, he will be fine."

Ilan Dalal and hostage Guy Gilboa Dalal

‘If anyone could handle captivity, it was him’: Danny Miran discusses son's Gaza captivity

While Omri's brother, Boaz, told Israeli media that he was originally kept in a cage whilst in captivity, his father, Danny, told N12 that he was relatively well-fed and was not starved.

Released hostage Omri Miran waves the Israeli flag as he arrives to Ichilov hospital, October 13, 2025.

On the ground in Hostage Square as the historic deal unfolds

'Until all 48 hostages are freed and back on Israeli soil, I cannot breathe.'

EVYATAR DAVID (R) and Guy Gilboa-Dalal – childhood friends taken captive at the Nova festival –  are reunited upon release, at Beilinson Hospital, Oct. 13.

When time stood still: The lost two years for Hamas hostages

For those held for two years, release is a collision of timelines. Their timeline, frozen in the moments of abduction on October 7, and everyone else’s, which has continued.

TIME STOOD still for many of the Israeli hostages held by Hamas underground in tunnels. For them, rebuilding their lives means dealing with two lost years. Here, IDF soldiers exit a Hamas tunnel used on October 7 in northern Gaza.

WATCH: Israel receives hostage remains after Hamas locates body in Gaza

Hamas originally said that it would return the body of a slain Israeli hostage at 11 p.m. on Friday, but the Red Cross handover occured around midnight.

The remains of a deceased hostage arrive in Israel on October 18, 2025.

Israel’s road to healing didn’t end with the hostages’ return, it’s just beginning - opinion

Only a society that acknowledges its vulnerability and still chooses life can transform the end of war from a moment of paralysis into a turning point.

Celebrations at Hostage Square in Tel Aviv as negotiators set to sign deal freeing all hostages from Gaza, October 9, 2025

Grapevine, October 17, 2025: A combined Christian perspective

Movers and shakers in Israeli society.

US PRESIDENT Donald Trump with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Editor's Notes: Why these covers helped push a moment we needed

After two years of counting days, names, and faces, I am ready to be surprised by good news, a celebration, a new country joining the Abraham Accords, or the rebuilding of this country.

IF A leader who thrives on attention can be nudged to keep doing the right thing for Israel, then a powerful front page is a small price to pay. Special ‘Jerusalem Post’ front pages from the past two years of war.

We must stand united demanding return of the hostages, war against Hamas is ongoing - editorial

Now is not the time for infighting and the polarization that characterized the pre-October 7 atmosphere and undoubtedly contributed to Hamas concluding that the country was weakened and vulnerable.

Celebrations at Hostage Square in Tel Aviv as a hostage release is announced. October 09, 2025.

IDF receives coffin of deceased hostage from Red Cross after Hamas recovers body

IDF kills Hezbollah terrorist attempting to rebuild terror infrastructure • Reports indicate Witkoff to visit Israel next week • IDF strikes Gazan terrorists in tunnels despite ceasefire

An armed Hamas terrorist stands guard as a Red Cross vehicle arrives to receive from Hamas terrorists the remains of deceased hostages who had been held in Gaza since the deadly October 7, 2023 attack, in Gaza City, October 14, 2025.