Hostage

The last hostage's return: Why this moment calls for gratitude, not just relief - opinion

We, the Jewish people, experience the miracle of our continued peoplehood every single day

|BySHERWIN POMERANTZ
Pallbearers from the Israeli Police sit in the hearse with the casket of Israeli hostage Ran Gvili, the last captive held by Hamas in Gaza, on January 28, 2026.
Former hostage Alexander Sasha Troufanov spoke publicly for the first time on March 1, 2025

Freed hostage Alexander Sasha Troufanov reveals sexual harassment trauma during Gaza captivity

Troufanov noticed the hidden camera set up to watch him naked, and took the shower anyway, while trying to hide his private parts, he told BBC in an interview during his visit to London.

|ByLARA SUKSTER MOSHEYOF
Hostage posters seen at the Hostages' Square in Tel Aviv, January 14, 2025

Israel’s hostage dilemma: The need for clear, firm guidelines to break the cycle - editorial

As Israel faces a rare moment with no hostages in Hamas’ hands, the time has come to set clear, firm guidelines for future hostage situations and break the cycle of exchanges.

|ByJPOST EDITORIAL
Israeli Police and IDF solodiers in line to pay their respects as the funeral procession of St.-Sgt.-Maj. Ran Gvili, the last hostage from Gaza, makes its way to Gvili's Negev hometown of Meitar on Jan. 28, 2026.

Ran Gvili's funeral procession in pictures: Last hostage heads to final rest as crowds line streets

The day that St.-Sgt.-Maj. Ran Gvili received his proper funeral in Israel, more than two years after the October 7 massacre.

|ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF

Israel intends to name new Negev town after slain hostage Ran Gvili, Netanyahu announces

In the announcement, the prime minister said that one of the towns will be named Ranenim "after Israel’s hero, the late Ran Gvili."

JANUARY 25, 2026ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF
Posters of Ran Gvili, whose body is still being held captive by Hamas in Gaza, seen at Hostage Square in Tel Aviv. December 02, 2025.

With new players and old alliances, Israel’s post-October 7 political map takes shape

POLITICAL AFFAIRS: Two significant political developments played out this week as Israel moves towards elections. Gadi Eisenkot and Yonatan Shamriz took the reflectors with key announcements.

JANUARY 23, 2026ByHERB KEINON
Former prime minister Naftali Bennett seen with Gadi Eisenkot during a march in support of the conscription of ultra-Orthodox Jews into the IDF, from the entrance of Jerusalem to the Knesset, January 15, 2026

Emily Damari proposes to girlfriend Danielle Amit at event marking a year since release from Hamas

Damari was released from Hamas captivity in January 2025 alongside former hostages Romi Gonen and Doron Steinbrecher. 

JANUARY 23, 2026ByMIRIAM SELA-EITAM
Former hostage Emily Damari and her girlfriend, social media influencer Danielle Amit.

Brother of former hostage Avera Mengitsu missing, police ask public for help with search

Ashgara Mengistu, a 34-year-old resident of Ashkelon, left his mother's home in Ma'ale Adumim on Sunday and hasn't been seen since, the police reported.

JANUARY 21, 2026ByTOBIAS HOLCMAN
Ashgara Mengistu, Avera Mengitsu's brother, is missing.

Trump says US knows where Ran Gvili's remains are located

"Hamas knows exactly where our son is and has knowingly and deliberately violated President Trump’s framework and the agreement to return all hostages," Talik Gvili said.

JANUARY 20, 2026ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF, REUTERS
Posters of Ran Gvili, whose body is still being held captive by Hamas in Gaza, seen at Hostage Square in Tel Aviv. December 02, 2025.

Released hostages Keith and Aviva Siegel to enter humanitarian work following Gaza captivity trauma

"The extraordinary mobilization of Israeli society that fought for our freedom moved us deeply," said Keith, who spent 484 days in Gaza.

JANUARY 20, 2026ByMATHILDA HELLER
Released hostages Aviva and Keith Siegel have decided to step into international humanitarian work following their experience in captivity, the pair announced at the SID Israel conference on January 19.

Parents of slain Gaza hostages Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Roni Eshel to release memoirs of experience

Goldberg-Polin, mother of Hersh, will release an intimate memoir this spring, while Eshel, father of Roni, is publishing a book chronicling the 34 days before learning of his daughter’s death.

JANUARY 18, 2026BySHIR PERETS
RACHEL GOLDBERG-POLIN interviews in Jerusalem, May 29.

Trump advised not to strike Iran, former hostage files assault complaint

The Jerusalem Post's must-listen news roundup with Shifra Jacobs—the top stories, clear and concise.

JANUARY 18, 2026ByJERUSALEM POST PODCASTS
US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff delivers a press conference upon the signing of the declaration on deploying post-ceasefire force in Ukraine, during the so-called 'Coalition of the Willing' summit, at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, January 6, 2026.

Guatemalan inmates riot at three prisons, taking 46 people hostage

Inmates, some wearing jumpsuits but most in tank tops and shorts, their faces covered by masks improvised with pieces of clothing, watched from above, perched in the prison's patrol towers.

JANUARY 18, 2026ByREUTERS
An inmate looks out from a security tower at the Renovacion 1 prison, as inmates at three Guatemalan prisons rioted on Saturday and took mostly prison guards hostage, authorities said, in Escuintla, Guatemala, January 17, 2026.

Gaza Phase II begins: Trump unveils 'Board of Peace,' demands Hamas disarm

“As I have said before, we can do this the easy way or the hard way. The people of Gaza have suffered long enough. The time is NOW,” Trump wrote.

JANUARY 16, 2026ByFRAIDY MOSER
Israeli army soldier holding a mounted machine gun in front of destroyed buildings in the vicinity of the Jordanian Field Hospital in Gaza City.