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U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday announced that Israel and Hamas have agreed to the “first phase” of his peace plan aimed at pausing fighting and releasing hostages and prisoners — marking what he described as a major breakthrough in the two-year-long war. “This means that ALL of the Hostages will be released very soon, and Israel will withdraw their Troops to an agreed upon line as the first steps toward a Strong, Durable, and Everlasting Peace,” Trump wrote on social media. According to people familiar with the matter, Hamas will release all 20 living hostages in the coming days, while Israeli forces are expected to begin withdrawing from most parts of Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomed the deal, saying on social media, “With God’s help we will bring them all home.” Hamas confirmed that the agreement includes Israeli troop withdrawal, entry of humanitarian aid, and the exchange of hostages and prisoners. Israeli forces stop new Gaza-bound aid flotilla Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Yechiel Leiter told CNN that living hostages are expected to be released on Sunday or Monday, following Cabinet approval of a list of Palestinian prisoners for release. “We hope it leads to a complete cessation of hostilities and a rebuilding of Gaza for the sake of the Gazans and for the sake of Israel,” he said. In a Fox News interview, Trump said the hostages will “probably” start being released on Monday, calling the agreement “peace in the Middle East.” He said Gaza would become “a peaceful, much safer place,” adding that wealthy neighboring countries would help reconstruct the territory, with U.S. support. The Israeli Army said it “welcomes the signing of the agreement for the return of the hostages,” adding that forces have been instructed to strengthen defenses and prepare for “any scenario.” In Israel, news of the deal sparked celebrations in Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square, where families of captives hugged and cheered through tears of joy. The U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres welcomed the U.S.-brokered agreement as a “desperately needed breakthrough,” urging all parties to fully comply with the deal and calling for a “credible political path” toward a two-state solution. Israeli forces intercept flotilla bound for Gaza, detain over 140 activists Netanyahu’s office described his phone conversation with Trump as “warm and moving,” calling the agreement a “historic achievement.” The Israeli leader thanked Trump for his “global leadership,” while Trump praised Netanyahu’s “determined leadership.” The deal will go before Israel’s Cabinet for final approval Thursday. Once approved, Israel is expected to begin its withdrawal within 24 hours, while Hamas will have 72 hours to release the hostages, according to U.S. officials. Mediators in Qatar confirmed that Israel and Hamas had agreed on the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire deal, which “will lead to ending the war, the release of hostages and prisoners, and the entry of aid.” The Hostages Families Forum welcomed the ceasefire announcement with “excitement, anticipation and apprehension,” thanking Trump for his “commitment and determination that led to this historic breakthrough.” Source: AP

On the eve of the second anniversary of the Gaza war, Israeli and Hamas representatives have begun indirect negotiations at an Egyptian resort, discussing a U.S.-proposed peace initiative aimed at ending the long-standing conflict. The talks, held over several hours on Monday in Sharm el-Sheikh, revolve around a plan introduced by U.S. President Donald Trump. Major sticking points remain, including Israel's insistence on Hamas disarming and questions about who will govern Gaza moving forward. Trump has suggested that a resolution in Gaza could set the stage for broader peace in the Middle East. Despite Trump’s call for Israel to halt its bombing campaign, Israeli airstrikes continued in Gaza, reportedly killing at least 19 people in the past day, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. An Egyptian official familiar with the discussions said Monday's session concluded with plans to resume on Tuesday. He noted that both sides had reached preliminary agreement on the first stage of the deal — which involves a ceasefire and the release of hostages. Crucial Egypt-mediated talks between Israel and Hamas underway Israel's team is led by senior negotiator Ron Dermer, with adviser Ophir Falk also attending. Hamas is represented by senior official Khalil al-Hayyah. According to Egypt’s state-run Al-Qahera News, the process began with Hamas meeting Arab mediators, who later met with the Israeli delegation. U.S. figures including envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner are also expected to join the negotiations, Egyptian media reported. Hamas stated that talks will address an initial ceasefire phase involving a partial Israeli withdrawal and an exchange of hostages for Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails. This peace initiative gained momentum after both Israel and Hamas expressed conditional support for elements of the U.S. plan. Under its terms, Hamas would release the remaining 48 hostages—around 20 of whom are thought to be alive—within three days, disarm, and relinquish control of Gaza. Israel and Hamas head to Egypt for ceasefire and hostage deal talks Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the discussions should last only a few days, though Hamas leaders warned more time may be needed to recover the remains of some hostages trapped under rubble. Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi praised Trump’s role in seeking peace, emphasizing the importance of the long-standing U.S.-led peace efforts in the region, dating back to the 1970s. He spoke during a televised address marking the anniversary of the 1973 war with Israel, which resulted in Egypt regaining the Sinai Peninsula. U.S. Presses for Ceasefire The U.S. has made it clear that continued Israeli airstrikes must stop to facilitate the release of hostages. While Israel says it is largely complying, its military claims ongoing strikes are defensive in nature. Nonetheless, dozens of Palestinians have reportedly been killed since Saturday night. Gaza’s Health Ministry reported that in the last 24 hours, 19 people were killed—including two seeking aid—and 96 were injured. Since the war began on October 7, 2023, following a deadly Hamas attack, the Palestinian death toll has reached 67,160, with nearly 170,000 wounded. The ministry, part of the Hamas-led government, is considered the most reliable source for casualty data by the UN and other observers. During the initial October 7 attack, Hamas-led militants killed around 1,200 people—mostly civilians—and kidnapped 251. Many hostages have since been released through ceasefire deals. Meanwhile, families of the remaining Israeli hostages have nominated Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize, crediting his efforts toward ending the war and securing the hostages' release. They expressed renewed hope that peace may soon be possible. At a memorial in Nir Oz Kibbutz for those killed on October 7, Daniel Lifshitz—whose family members were taken hostage—emphasized that the priority should be the immediate release of all captives. He acknowledged the difficult compromises Israel might make but said, “We cherish life, and in Trump we trust to make it happen.” Gaza Families Mark Grim Anniversary In Gaza, families of children born on the day the war began had hoped to mark their second birthdays with joy, but instead remain surrounded by violence and displacement. Many now live in dire conditions, lacking sanitation, food, and medical care. Amal al-Taweel and her husband, Mostafa, had their son Ali after years of trying. Now, they live in a tent, far from the peaceful life they imagined for him. “He never got to experience what a safe, loving home feels like,” she said. Vatican Calls for Proportionality As the war's anniversary approaches, the Vatican condemned the October 7 attacks on Israel as an “inhuman massacre,” while also criticizing Israel’s extensive bombing of Gaza. It called on nations to halt arms shipments to Israel and urged respect for the principle of proportionality in warfare. Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s Secretary of State, stated: “Even in legitimate defense, proportionality must be maintained. A spiral of hatred will only lead to destruction.”

Israeli airstrikes across the Gaza Strip on Friday killed at least 64 people, according to local hospitals, as U.S. President Donald Trump concluded a Middle East tour that excluded Israel and failed to deliver any hope for a ceasefire in the war-ravaged enclave. Health officials reported that 48 bodies were taken to the Indonesian Hospital and another 16 to Nasser Hospital following overnight strikes that hit areas near Deir al-Balah and Khan Younis. The renewed wave of bombardments coincided with Trump’s departure from the Gulf region. Many had hoped his regional visit might lead to a ceasefire or a resumption of humanitarian aid, but those expectations went unmet. Meanwhile, Gaza remains under an Israeli blockade that has now stretched into its third month. The Israeli military did not immediately comment on the strikes, which continued for hours and triggered panic and displacement in the Jabaliya refugee camp and the town of Beit Lahiya. These latest attacks follow days of intense shelling that, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, have killed over 130 people. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had earlier pledged a major escalation in military operations aimed at defeating Hamas, the militant group that controls Gaza. In remarks released Tuesday, Netanyahu stated that Israeli forces were preparing to enter Gaza “with great strength” to “complete the mission of destroying Hamas.” It remains unclear whether Friday’s bombardment marks the start of that operation.  54 killed in overnight Israeli airstrikes on Southern Gaza’s Khan Younis An Israeli official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said cabinet ministers were meeting Friday to evaluate ceasefire talks taking place in Qatar and to determine the next course of action. Meanwhile, families of hostages held by Hamas said they woke Friday with “heavy hearts” amid reports of intensified Israeli strikes. In a statement, they urged Netanyahu to work with President Trump to reach a deal for the hostages’ release. “Missing this historic opportunity to bring the hostages home would be a failure remembered in infamy,” said the statement, issued by a forum supporting hostage families. The war began after Hamas-led militants launched a deadly attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1,200 people. In response, Israel began a large-scale offensive in Gaza that has since killed over 53,000 Palestinians, many of them women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. The ministry does not differentiate between civilian and militant deaths. Around 3,000 people have been killed since Israel resumed operations on March 18 following a brief ceasefire. Hamas still holds 58 of the approximately 250 hostages taken on October 7. Israeli authorities believe 23 of those are still alive, although they have raised concerns about the fate of at least three. Israel’s blockade on Gaza has cut off access to essential supplies like food, fuel, and medicine, deepening the humanitarian crisis. The Israeli government insists that aid will not be allowed in until a mechanism is in place that ensures its control over distribution, aimed at pressuring Hamas to release the hostages. Earlier this week, a new U.S.-backed humanitarian group, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, announced it would begin aid delivery operations before the end of May, following agreements with Israeli officials. The group includes U.S. military veterans, former aid coordinators, and security personnel. However, several humanitarian organizations, including the United Nations, criticized the initiative, saying it does not meet international humanitarian standards and will not be able to adequately address the needs of Palestinians in Gaza. They have opted not to participate.  Israeli airstrikes in Gaza kill 60, including 22 children

On Monday, Hamas released Edan Alexander, a 21-year-old Israeli-American soldier who had been held captive in Gaza for over 19 months. The release was described as a goodwill gesture toward the Trump administration and could potentially pave the way for renewed ceasefire talks with Israel. Alexander is the first hostage freed since Israel ended an eight-week truce with Hamas in March, triggering a wave of intense airstrikes on Gaza that have resulted in the deaths of hundreds of Palestinians. He was first handed over to the Red Cross, then transferred to Israeli forces, and subsequently flown by helicopter to a hospital in Tel Aviv. Israeli officials later shared images and footage of Alexander, looking pale but smiling, as he reunited emotionally with his mother and other relatives. Israel has promised to intensify its offensive, including by seizing Gaza and displacing much of the territory’s population again. Days before the ceasefire ended, Israel blocked all imports from entering the Palestinian enclave, deepening a humanitarian crisis and sparking warnings about the risk of famine if the blockade isn’t lifted. Israel says the steps are meant to pressure Hamas to accept a ceasefire agreement on Israel’s terms. UK’s Starmer  announces stricter immigration plan; pledges sharp drop in migration numbers Wearing shirts emblazoned with his name, Alexander’s extended family gathered in Tel Aviv to watch the release. They chanted his name when the military said he was free, while in the city’s Hostage Square, hundreds of people broke out into cheers. Alexander’s grandmother, Varda Ben Baruch, beamed. She said her grandson looked mostly all right in the first photo of him after nearly 600 days in captivity.   “He seemed like a man. He has really matured,” she said. Reports that Alexander cracked a joke on the phone while speaking to his mother for the first time did not surprise her. “He’s got such a sense of humor,” she said. Alexander was 19 when he was taken from his military base in southern Israel during Hamas’ cross-border attack on Oct. 7, 2023, which set off the war in Gaza. In his hometown of Tenafly, New Jersey, hundreds of supporters packed the streets, holding signs with his image and listening to speakers blasting Israeli music. As they watched the news of his release on a large screen, the crowd hugged and waved Israeli flags. Since he was taken hostage, supporters there gathered every Friday to march for the hostages’ release. Israel says 58 hostages remain in captivity, with about 23 of them said to be alive. Many of the 250 hostages taken by Hamas-led militants in the 2023 attack were freed in ceasefire deals. Trump calls expected release ‘hopefully’ a step toward ending war Hamas announced its intention to release Alexander shortly before U.S. President Donald Trump was set to arrive Tuesday in the Middle East on the first official foreign trip of his second term. Trump on Sunday called the planned release “a step taken in good faith towards the United States and the efforts of the mediators — Qatar and Egypt — to put an end to this very brutal war and return ALL living hostages and remains to their loved ones.” “Hopefully this is the first of those final steps necessary to end this brutal conflict. I look very much forward to that day of celebration!” Trump said on social media. Trump, who is traveling to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, is not scheduled to stop in Israel. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met Monday with the U.S. special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, and the U.S. ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, and discussed efforts to release the remaining hostages, his office said.   Netanyahu “directed that a negotiations team leave for Doha tomorrow,” the prime minister’s office said, adding that Netanyahu “made it clear that the negotiations would only take place under fire.” Netanyahu said Alexander’s release “was achieved thanks to our military pressure and the diplomatic pressure applied by President Trump. This is a winning combination.” The Hostages and Missing Families Forum, which represents relatives of hostages, welcomed the news that an Israeli delegation was headed to the Qatari capital for talks. “Prime Minister Netanyahu, the ball is in your court,” the group said in a statement after Alexander was released. It urged the prime minister to announce that he was ready to negotiate a deal for the return of all remaining hostages and end the war. “Don’t miss this historic opportunity facing the State of Israel. Prove to the Israeli public and President Trump that you are willing to take a regional initiative that transcends narrow political considerations,” the group said.      

Lebanon’s top military authority has issued a stern warning to Hamas, vowing the “harshest measures” if the group attempts to launch any attacks from Lebanese soil. The Higher Defence Council’s statement on Friday followed the recent arrest of several Lebanese and Palestinian individuals accused of firing rockets into northern Israel, according to AP. “Hamas and other factions will not be allowed to endanger national stability,” the council declared. “The safety of Lebanon’s territories is above all.” Brig Gen Mohammed al-Mustafa, reading the statement, added, “The harshest measures will be taken to put a complete end to any act that infringes on Lebanon’s sovereignty.” There was no immediate response from Hamas officials to requests for comment. Hamas previously launched attacks on Israel from within Lebanon since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas conflict in October 2023. Israeli airstrike targets area near Syrian presidential palace In retaliation, Israeli airstrikes have targeted Hamas operatives in Lebanon, including the assassination of senior military leader Saleh Arouri in Beirut. Lebanese authorities are aiming to reassert control over the entire country, particularly the south near the Israeli border, following a 14-month conflict between Israel - Hezbollah that concluded in late November with a US-mediated ceasefire. In March, multiple suspects, including Palestinians, were arrested in connection with two rocket attacks on Israel. Those attacks prompted heavy Israeli bombardments in Lebanon. Lebanon’s Hezbollah denied involvement in the rocket fire.

Israel confirmed on Tuesday that several senior Hamas officials and mid-level commanders, including Issam al-Daalis, head of the Hamas-run government in Gaza, were killed in its latest airstrikes. Al-Daalis was the head of Hamas's Government Administrative Committee in the Gaza Strip, a role comparable to that of a prime minister. The Israeli military and Shin Bet domestic security agency said in a joint statement that al-Daalis succeeded Rawhi Mushtaha as "the head of the Hamas government" after Mushtaha was killed by Israeli forces in July 2024. The statement said several Hamas officials were killed over the past 24 hours in "dozens" of airstrikes. It said that "based on the information available at this stage, it can be determined with high probability" that three other Hamas members were killed. These included Mahmoud Abu Watfa, Gaza's head of internal affairs authority; Bahjat Hassan Abu Sultan, head of Hamas's internal security forces; and Ahmed Omar al-Hatta, head of Gaza's justice authorities. More than 400 killed as Israel launches airstrikes across Gaza In a statement earlier on Tuesday, Hamas confirmed that al-Daalis, as well as other officials, were killed in the Israeli assault, saying al-Daalis served as the Chairman of the Government Follow-Up Committee.

Israel launched a wave of airstrikes across the Gaza Strip early Tuesday, saying it was hitting Hamas targets in its heaviest assault in the territory since a ceasefire took effect in January. The strikes killed more than 400 people and wounded over 500, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he ordered the strikes because of a lack of progress in talks to extend the ceasefire. Officials said the operation was open-ended and was expected to expand. The White House said it had been consulted and voiced support for Israel’s actions. Hamas warned that Israel’s new airstrikes breached their ceasefire and put the fate of hostages in jeopardy. The surprise attack shattered a period of relative calm during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan and raised the prospect of a full return to fighting in a 17-month war that has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians and caused widespread destruction across Gaza.   Gaza Health Ministry revises the number of dead and wounded The Gaza Health Ministry has revised its death toll from Israeli strikes on Tuesday, saying a total of 404 people were killed. It had earlier reported 413 dead. It also revised the number of wounded to 562 from 660. It did not provide an explanation. Medics say the situation inside Gaza hospitals has been chaotic since the strikes began hours before dawn, and that many people are still buried under the rubble. A doctor at a Gaza hospital speaks of ‘horror’ as casualties rise A doctor working at a Gaza hospital said she had witnessed “a level of horror” that was hard to articulate after Israel’s surprise bombardment of the territory. Dr. Tanya Haj Hassan, a volunteer with Medical Aid for Palestinians based at Nasser Hospital, said the pediatric intensive care unit was full. She said she had personally treated at least five patients who died in the emergency room. “The ER was just chaos, patients everywhere, on the floor,” she said. “There were probably three men, and the rest were all children, women, elderly, everybody caught in their sleep, still wrapped in blankets. Terrifying.” Israeli strikes across Gaza kill at least 413 Palestinians, officials say The death toll from a wave of Israeli strikes in Gaza Tuesday has reached 413, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza. The ministry says at least 660 people have been wounded in the strikes. Israel launched a new offensive on Gaza Tuesday, shattering a ceasefire between it and the militant group Hamas and threatening to fully ignite the war in Gaza. Palestinians describe a strike on a school-turned-shelter Palestinians at a school sheltering displaced families in Gaza City say they were shaken violently from their sleep early Tuesday when Israeli jets struck. Hospital officials said more than two dozen people were killed. “People are sleeping peacefully, they set the alarm to wake up for suhoor, and they wake up to death,” said Fedaa Heriz, a displaced woman, referring to the early morning meal during the fasting month of Ramadan. The Israeli military had no immediate comment on the school strike, which was part of a renewed offensive in Gaza. “I heard screaming, my mother and sister screaming, calling for help. I came and entered the room and found the children under the rubble, under the stones,” said Majd Naser, a displaced Palestinian. Hamas says at least 4 senior officials killed in Israeli airstrikes The Hamas-run government media office in Gaza said at least four senior officials, including two top police officers, in the Hamas administration have been killed in Israeli strikes. They include Issam al-Daalis, head of the government administrative committee, Maj. Gen. Mohamed Abu Watfa, undersecretary of the Interior Ministry, Maj. Gen. Bahgat Abu Sultan, director of the domestic security agency and Ahmed al-Hetta, undersecretary of the Justice Ministry. Egypt lashes out at Israel over new attacks in Gaza Egypt, a key mediator in Gaza ceasefire talks, lashed out at Israel, calling its new offensive on Gaza a “flagrant violation of the ceasefire deal.” The Egyptian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that it rejects “all Israeli attacks which aim to … make ongoing efforts to de-escalate and regain stability fail.” It called for the international community to “to immediately intervene to stop the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip.” It also urged the parties to “exercise restraint” and give mediators a space to “complete their efforts to reach a permanent ceasefire.” UN human rights chief ‘horrified’ by Gaza strikes The U.N. human rights chief says he’s “horrified” by Israel airstrikes in Gaza overnight that have killed hundreds, according to health authorities in the territory. Volker Türk says the last 18 months of fighting between Palestinian armed groups, including Hamas, and Israeli forces have shown that “the only way forward is a political settlement” and a “military path” offers no way out of the crisis. The rights chief reiterated his calls for hostages held by Hamas and people held arbitrarily to be released “immediately and unconditionally.” “This nightmare must end immediately,” he added in a statement. 69 killed as Israel launches series of deadly airstrikes across Gaza Families of hostages call for a protest outside Israel’s parliament The families of hostages held by Hamas are calling on supporters to protest with them outside Israel’s parliament, saying the resumption of fighting in Gaza puts their loved ones at risk. “With each passing day, the danger to the hostages grows. Military pressure could further endanger their lives,” the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, the main group representing the families, said in a statement announcing the protest. Netanyahu set to meet top security officials on the next step An Israeli official says Netanyahu is to meet with top security officials in the coming half-hour to discuss next steps in the war. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss a closed-door meeting. UN secretary-general says he is ‘shocked’ by Israeli strikes in Gaza The United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres says he is “shocked” by the Israeli airstrikes in Gaza and has called for the ceasefire in Gaza to be respected. Guterres, in a statement, called for humanitarian aid to resume for people in Gaza and for the hostages held by Hamas to be released unconditionally. Freed British-Israeli hostage says she is ‘crushed' by resumption of fighting Freed British-Israeli hostage Emily Damari says her “heart is broken, crushed and disappointed” by the resumption of fighting in Gaza. In a story on Instagram shared by Israeli media, she said she would keep fighting for the remaining hostages. Israeli strikes kill at least 326 people Gaza’s Health Ministry says Israeli strikes across the territory have killed at least 326 people. The wave of strikes that began early Tuesday is among the deadliest since the start of the 17-month war. Australian prime minister calls for ceasefire to be maintained in Gaza Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called for the ceasefire to be maintained following Israel’s attack on Gaza. “There’s already been enormous suffering there, which is why we’re calling upon all parties to respect the ceasefire and hostage deal that was put in place,” Albanese told reporters. “We’ll continue to make representations. Australia will continue to stand up for peace and security in the region,” he added. Israeli airstrike flattens prison, killing dozens of prisoners and police officers An Israeli airstrike flattened a prison run by the Hamas-led government in Gaza Strip, killing dozens of prisoners and policemen, according to hospital records. The prison was located in the urban Shati refugee camp in Gaza City. Associated Press footage showed a collapsed building and people trying to reach bodies buried under the rubble. The bodies of more than three dozen prisoners and guards were taken to the nearby Shifa hospital. The Hamas-run government operates a police force that numbered in the tens of thousands before the war and quickly returned to the streets after a ceasefire took hold in January. Israel’s military orders people to evacuate eastern Gaza after wave of strikes The Israeli military ordered people to evacuate eastern Gaza and move toward the center of the territory after Israel carried out a wave of airstrikes across the territory. The orders issued Tuesday indicate Israel could launch renewed ground operations. Classes suspended in dozens of Gaza schools after airstrikes The Hamas-run Education Ministry in the Gaza Strip says classes have been suspended in dozens of schools that had recently reopened. The decision came after Israel launched a wave of heavy airstrikes across Gaza early Tuesday, shattering a nearly two-month ceasefire. Schools shut down across Gaza after Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack ignited the war, and most were converted to shelters for displaced people. The ministry said it had resumed classes in around 70 schools in recent weeks. A UNICEF staffer describes a harrowing night in Gaza A United Nations staffer in the Gaza Strip described a “very tough night” as Israel resumed heavy strikes across the territory after a nearly two-month ceasefire. Rosalia Bollen, a communications specialist with the U.N. children’s agency, said she woke up around 2 a.m. on Tuesday to “very loud explosions.” She said the UNICEF bass near the southern city of Rafah “was shaking very heavily.” When the strikes subsided, she heard “people yelling, people screaming and ambulances.” “The bombardments have continued throughout the night,” though at a lower intensity than the initial barrage, she said. “The whole night, there’s been just the constant buzzing of drones and planes flying over.” She said the strikes hit tents and structures housing displaced families. “We’re seeing, as of this morning, at least several dozen children killed,” she said. Families of hostages held in Gaza say they are terrified by the resumed airstrikes The main group representing the families of hostages held in Gaza has slammed the decision to return to fighting, saying the move shows the government “chose to give up on the hostages.” The Hostages Families Forum said “military pressure endangers hostages.” It asked the government in a post on X why it “backed out of the agreement” with Hamas that set out a release of all the living hostages in exchange for an end to the war. “We are shocked, angry, and terrified by the deliberate dismantling of the process to return our loved ones from the terrible captivity of Hamas,” the group said. ISIS leader killed in Iraq, Iraqi prime minister says Netanyahu's hard-line ally welcomes return to fighting in Gaza A key governing partner of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomed the return to fighting in Gaza. Bezalel Smotrich had threatened to leave the government if fighting did not resume, which would imperil Netanyahu’s rule. Critics said those political considerations were influencing Netanyahu’s wartime decision-making. “We remained in the government for this moment despite our opposition to the (ceasefire) deal, and we are more determined than ever to complete the task and destroy Hamas,” Smotrich posted on X. Israeli strikes have killed at least 235 people in the Gaza Strip Israeli strikes across the Gaza Strip have killed at least 235 people, according to local hospitals. The toll from the strikes overnight and into Tuesday is based on records from seven hospitals and does not include bodies brought to other, smaller health centers. Rescuers are still searching for dead and wounded. North Korea criticizes US over airstrikes targeting Yemen's Houthi rebels North Korea has criticized the United States over its new campaign of airstrikes targeting Yemen’s Houthi rebels. The state-run KCNA news agency on Tuesday quoted Ma Tong Hui, North Korea’s ambassador to Egypt and concurrently to Yemen, as describing the attacks as a “wanton violation of all international laws including the U.N. Charter and it is an open encroachment upon the sovereignty of other nation that can never be justified.” He also criticized “U.S. hooliganism.” Trump during his first term held summits with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, but the diplomacy collapsed over disagreements on US sanctions. Senior Hamas official says Gaza strikes amount to ‘death sentence’ for remaining hostages A senior Hamas official says Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s decision to launch widespread strikes on the Gaza Strip amounts to a “death sentence” for the remaining hostages held there. In a statement early Tuesday, Izzat al-Risheq, a member of Hamas’ political bureau, accused Netanyahu of resuming the war to try and save his far-right governing coalition. “Netanyahu’s decision to return to war is a decision to sacrifice the (Israeli) occupation’s captives and a death sentence against them,” he said. He said Israel didn’t respect its commitments in the ceasefire deal reached in January and urged mediators to “reveal facts” on which side broke the agreement. US security official blames Hamas for renewed fighting National Security Council spokesman Brian Hughes said the militant group “could have released hostages to extend the ceasefire but instead chose refusal and war.” U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff, who has been leading mediation efforts along with Egypt and Qatar, had earlier warned that Hamas must release living hostages immediately “or pay a severe price.” Israel expects further military action Israeli officials said the latest operation was open-ended and was expected to expand. “Israel will, from now on, act against Hamas with increasing military strength,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said. White House says it was consulted by Israelis before resuming attacks against Hamas White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt says the “Trump administration and the White House were consulted by the Israelis on their attacks in Gaza tonight.” “As President Trump has made it clear, Hamas, the Houthis, Iran — all those who seek to terrorize not just Israel, but also the United States of America — will see a price to pay: All hell will break lose,” Leavitt continued, speaking to Fox News on Monday evening. Leavitt is one of three administration officials who face a lawsuit from The Associated Press on First- and Fifth-Amendment grounds. The AP says the three are punishing the news agency for editorial decisions they oppose. The White House says the AP is not following an executive order to refer to the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America.

In the occupied West Bank, Israeli fire killed three Palestinians, including a 58-year-old woman, in the restive city of Jenin on Tuesday, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.  The Israeli military stated that two of those killed were militants engaged in an exchange of fire with troops. A third individual, who allegedly opened fire at Israeli forces, was also killed. Additionally, 10 people were arrested, and two vehicles loaded with weapons were destroyed, the army said.  Israel launched a major military operation in Jenin following the January ceasefire with Hamas in Gaza. Since then, forces have demolished homes and infrastructure, forcing tens of thousands of Palestinians to flee northern parts of the West Bank, AP reports.  More than 1,000 people dead in clashes between Syrian govt forces and Asad loyalists The Gaza Health Ministry reported that four people were killed and 14 wounded by Israeli fire in the past 24 hours. Rescuers also recovered 32 bodies from the rubble.  Among those killed were three brothers targeted by a drone strike in central Gaza on Monday, while a woman was killed in a separate strike in Rafah on Tuesday.  The latest fatalities bring the overall Palestinian death toll to 48,503, with over 110,000 wounded, according to the ministry. It says women and children make up the majority of those killed but does not differentiate between fighters and civilians.  Israel claims to have killed over 17,000 militants but has not provided evidence. 

President Donald Trump on Wednesday issued what he called a “last warning” to Hamas to release all remaining hostages held in Gaza, directing a sharply worded message after the White House confirmed that he had recently dispatched an envoy for unprecedented direct talks with the militant group. In a statement on his Truth Social platform soon after meeting at the White House with eight former hostages, Trump added that he was “sending Israel everything it needs to finish the job.” “Release all of the Hostages now, not later, and immediately return all of the dead bodies of the people you murdered, or it is OVER for you,” Trump said. “Only sick and twisted people keep bodies, and you are sick and twisted!” The pointed language from Trump came after the White House said Wednesday that U.S. officials have engaged in “ongoing talks and discussions” with Hamas officials, stepping away from a long-held U.S. policy of not directly engaging with the militant group. Confirmation of the talks in the Qatari capital of Doha came as the Israel-Hamas ceasefire remains in the balance. It’s the first known direct engagement between the United States and Hamas since the State Department designated the group a foreign terrorist organization in 1997. US pauses intelligence sharing with Ukraine amid diplomatic spat White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt declined to provide detail on the substance of talks, but said President Donald Trump has authorized his envoys to “talk to anyone.” Egyptian and Qatari intermediaries have served as mediators with Hamas for the U.S. and Israel since the group launched its Oct. 7, 2023 attack on Israel that sparked the war. “Look, dialogue and talking to people around the world to do what’s in the best interest of the American people is something that the president ... believes is a good-faith effort to do what’s right for the American people,” she said. Leavitt added that Israel has been consulted about the direct engagement with Hamas officials, and noted that there are “American lives at stake.” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office offered a terse acknowledgement of the U.S.-Hamas talks. “Israel has expressed to the United States its position regarding direct talks with Hamas,” the prime minister’s office said. ‘If US wants war, we are ready’: China Israeli officials say about 24 living hostages — including Edan Alexander, an American citizen — as well as the bodies of at least 35 others are believed to still be held in Gaza. Adam Boehler, Trump’s nominee to be special envoy for hostage affairs, led the direct talks with Hamas. Boehler, founder and CEO of Rubicon Founders, a healthcare investment firm, was a lead negotiator on the Abraham Accords team during Trump’s first term that strove to win broader recognition of Israel in the Arab world. The talks, which took place last month, focused mainly on the release of American hostages, and a potential end of the war without Hamas in power in Gaza, according to a Hamas official who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity. The official added that no progress was made but “the step itself is promising” and more talks are expected. Egyptian and Qatari mediators helped arrange the talks. The direct engagement comes as continuation of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire remains uncertain. Trump has signaled that he has no intentions of pushing Netanyahu away from a return to combat if Hamas doesn’t agree to terms of a new ceasefire proposal, which the Israelis have billed as being drafted by U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff. The new plan would require Hamas to release half its remaining hostages — the militant group’s main bargaining chip — in exchange for a ceasefire extension and a promise to negotiate a lasting truce. Israel made no mention of releasing more Palestinian prisoners, a key component of the first phase. Appeals court allows watchdog agency head’s removal as legal battle rages over Trump firing Trump on Wednesday welcomed eight former hostages — Iair Horn, Omer Shem Tov, Eli Sharabi, Keith Siegel, Aviva Siegel, Naama Levy, Doron Steinbrecher and Noa Argamani — to the White House. “The President listened intently to their heartbreaking stories,” Leavitt said. "The hostages thanked President Trump for his steadfast efforts to bring all of the hostages home.” Keith Siegel, an Israeli-American released last month as part of the ceasefire, said they came to the White House to express their appreciation to Trump and Witkoff, the Mideast envoy. “We urged them to continue their enormous efforts. They have done so much. We trust them and we know they will get the job done to get all the rest of the 59 remaining hostages held in Gaza back to their families,” he said in a statement. The talks between U.S. and Hamas officials were first reported earlier Wednesday by the news site Axios. Leavitt, the White House press secretary, is one of three administration officials who face a lawsuit from The Associated Press on First- and Fifth-Amendment grounds. The AP says the three are punishing the news agency for editorial decisions they oppose. The White House says the AP is not following an executive order to refer to the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America.

Hamas handed over the remains of four more Israeli hostages early Thursday in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners as part of the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. They are the last four to be released during the first phase of the truce, which is set to end Saturday. Israel and Hamas have yet to negotiate the next phase, and dozens of hostages are still held in Gaza. Hamas transferred the four bodies to the Red Cross early Thursday and they were brought back to Israel for forensic testing. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum, which represents families of the captives, said the remains had been positively identified. Under the first phase of the truce, 25 Israeli hostages and the remains of eight others were handed over in exchange for almost 2,000 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. Five Thai citizens abducted while working in Israel on the day of the attack were freed last month in a separate deal. Hamas-led militants took 251 hostages during their Oct. 7, 2023, attack that launched the war in Gaza. Fifty-nine hostages remain in Gaza, roughly half of whom are believed to be dead. The others were released in previous agreements, rescued, or their bodies were recovered. Israel’s military campaign has killed over 48,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which does not say how many were fighters but says more than half were women or children. Here’s a look at the hostages released so far: Ohad Yahalomi, 49 when kidnapped Ohad Yahalomi was shot in the leg as he and his family were taken from Kibbutz Nir Oz. His wife and two daughters, one 10 and the other almost 2, escaped from a moped attempting to take them into Gaza and got away after running through fields for hours. Ohad and his oldest son, Eitan, then 12, were taken into Gaza but held separately. Eitan was released as part of a ceasefire in November 2023. UN halts food aid to famine-hit Sudan displacement camp Yahalomi, who also had French citizenship, was a dedicated runner and swimmer and loved traveling across Israel, according to the hostage forum. Itzhak Elgarat, 68 when kidnapped Elgarat was taken from Kibbutz Nir Oz and was wounded in his hand, according to his brother, who spoke with him that morning. His brother, Danny Elgarat, told Israeli media in July 2024 that they had received information from the Israeli military that Itzhak had likely been killed at some point in early 2024, though there was no confirmation of his death until Hamas said on Wednesday they would return his body. Hostages who were returned in the 2023 ceasefire said they had seen Itzhak in captivity in the early months of the war, his brother told Israeli media. Elgarat also had Danish citizenship. He loved to travel and was a passionate supporter of the Maccabi Tel Aviv soccer team. Shlomo Mantzur, 85 Mantzur was taken from Kibbutz Kissufim, while his wife of 60 years, Mazal, escaped. He was one of the founders of the kibbutz and had managed the chicken coops for many years. He had five children and 12 grandchildren. He loved working with his hands and studied jewelry-making and carpentry. Born in Iraq, he survived riots against Jews as a child and moved with his family to Israel as a young teenager, according to the Hostages and Missing Families Forum. Trump administration creates registry for immigrants who are in the US illegally Mantzur was the oldest person taken hostage. Earlier this month, the Israeli military confirmed that Mantzur was killed on Oct. 7, 2023, and his body was taken to Gaza. Tsachi Idan, 49 when kidnapped Idan was taken from Kibbutz Nahal Oz. His eldest daughter, Maayan, was killed as militants shot through the door of their saferoom. Hamas militants broadcast themselves on Facebook live holding the Idan family hostage in their home, as his two younger children pleaded with the militants to let them go. Only Tsachi was taken to Gaza. Idan worked in tech and loved playing soccer, volleyball and tennis, according to the hostages forum. Omer Wenkert, 23 Wenkert, a restaurant manager known for his love of dancing and sports, was taken captive from the Nova music festival in southern Israel. Since his abduction, his family was concerned that Wenkert — from the southern Israeli town of Gedera — wasn't getting the medication necessary to treat his colitis, an inflammation of the large intestine. They had not received a sign of life from him since November 2023, when Hamas published footage of Wenkert tied in the back of a pickup truck in his underwear. Omer Shem Tov, 22 Shem Tov, from the Israeli city of Herzliya, was abducted from the Nova music festival with his friends Maya and Itay Regev, former captives who were released in November 2023. He's a passionate musician and DJ, according to the hostage forum. On the day of the Hamas attack on Israel, Shem Tov crammed into a car full of people trying to flee, but the militants shot at them. His family later saw footage of Shem Tov held by militants and bound in the back of a truck. Tal Shoham, 40 Tal Shoham, from the northern Israeli village of Ma’ale Tzviya, was visiting his wife’s family on Kibbutz Be’eri when Hamas militants burned the house where they were hiding, forcing them outside. Hamas hands over the first 2 of 6 Israeli hostages  Shoham, who also has Austrian citizenship, was taken along with his wife, Adi Shoham; his daughter, Yahel, 3; son, Naveh, 8; mother-in-law, Shoshan Haran; his wife’s aunt, Sharon Avigdori; and her daughter, Noam, 12. Three members of their extended family were killed during the attack. The six extended family members were freed in November 2023. His wife, Adi, is a psychologist specializing in trauma. The hostage forum said Shoham volunteered with Israel’s emergency paramedic service and used to be a manager at Kibbutz Be’eri’s printing house. Eliya Cohen, 27 Cohen was at the Nova musical festival when he was taken hostage while hiding in a bomb shelter. His fiancé, Ziv Abud, avoided capture by hiding under a pile of bodies. Cohen is from Tzur Hadassah, a town north of Jerusalem. He works in marketing and real estate. Hostages who have been released in the past weeks said they were held with Cohen, and he had lost more than 20 kilograms (44 pounds) and had a bullet in his leg that did not receive medical attention. He was held in tunnels, chained for most of the time, and was unaware Abud had survived, she said earlier this month. Avera Mengistu, 38 Mengistu had been held in Gaza since entering on his own in 2014. Mengistu is from Ashkelon, a city in southern Israel. His family had no idea if he was alive for nine years, until Hamas released a video of him in January 2023. Mengistu, a member of Israel's Ethiopian minority, entered the territory by crossing a barbed wire fence into Gaza. After he crossed into the Gaza Strip, he was abducted by Hamas. The family told Israeli media he has struggled with mental health issues and he had gone missing within Israel previously. Hisham Al-Sayed, 36 Al-Sayed crossed on his own into Gaza in 2015 and had been held since. He grew up in Al-Sayed, a small Bedouin Arab village near the city of Hura in the Negev Desert. In 2022, Hamas published a video showing him lying in bed with an oxygen mask, though he was conscious. His father told Human Rights Watch that Al-Sayed had run away from home on many occasions. His family told Israeli media he was diagnosed with schizophrenia. “No other hostages should face a decade in captivity,” his family said in a statement shortly before Al-Sayed’s release. The Bibas family The bodies of Ariel and Kfir Bibas were returned Thursday and the remains of their mother, Shiri Bibas, were returned Friday. Hamas said the three were killed in an Israeli airstrike, while Israel says forensic testing showed the boys were killed in captivity in November 2023. Shiri’s husband, Yarden, was also abducted from Kibbutz Nir Oz on Oct. 7, 2023, and was released earlier this month. A video of the family’s abduction showed a terrified Shiri Bibas swaddling her two redheaded sons in a blanket as armed militants surrounded her. The footage ricocheted around the world in the hours after the attack. Ariel was 4 years old at the time and Kfir was 9 months old, making him the youngest captive taken by Hamas. Ariel Bibas loved Batman and family photos showed the four Bibases dressed as the character. Kfir, the infant with red hair and a toothless smile, became a symbol across Israel for the feelings of helplessness and anger over the hostages’ captivity. Oded Lifshitz, 84 The body of Oded Lifshitz, one of the oldest hostages held by the militants, was returned Thursday. He was taken captive from his home in Kibbutz Nir Oz, along with his wife, Yocheved Lifshitz, who was freed before the first ceasefire agreement. His family said in a statement they had “hoped and prayed so much for a different outcome.” “Now we can mourn the husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather who has been missing from us since October 7,” they said. "Our family’s healing process will begin now and will not end until the last hostage is returned.” Hamas to release 6 Israeli hostages as Israel frees 600 Palestinians Oded and Yocheved Lifshitz are among the founders of Nir Oz. Oded, a journalist, campaigned for the recognition of Palestinian rights and peace between Arabs and Jews. In retirement, he drove to the Erez border crossing on the northern edge of the Gaza Strip once a week to ferry Palestinians to medical appointments in Israel as part of a group called On the Way to Recovery. Oded took pride in his work helping the traditionally nomadic Bedouin people of the Negev Desert, his daughter told The Associated Press, describing a case that went to Israel’s High Court and resulted in the return of some of their land. Sagui Dekel Chen, 36 An Israeli-American, Chen was working outside on his pet project, bus conversions, when militants stormed his kibbutz. He instructed his wife, Avital, to hide in the safe room with their two daughters. Chen, one of the first people to raise alarm of the infiltration on the kibbutz, was taken captive. Avital was seven months pregnant at the time of the attack; she gave birth to a third daughter, Shachar Mazal, in December 2023. Chen is an avid tennis player who co-founded an arts center for young people in southern Israel, according to the hostage forum. Iair Horn, 46 Horn is an Israel-Argentinian who was taken captive along with his brother, Eitan Horn, who was staying with him at the time. Eitan Horn remains in captivity and is not included in the ceasefire’s first phase. Iair Horn managed the kibbutz pub and is a fan of the local soccer team in Beersheba, according to the hostage forum. Alexander (Sasha) Troufanov, 29 Sasha Trufanov, an Israeli-Russian, was taken hostage along with three members of his family: grandmother Irena Tati, mother Yelena (Lena) and girlfriend Sapir Cohen. His father, Vitaly Trufanov, was killed on Oct. 7, 2023. The rest of his family was freed during a weeklong ceasefire in November 2023. Sasha Troufanov works as an engineer for Amazon, according to the hostage forum. His family immigrated to Israel from the Soviet Union 25 years ago. He was held by Palestinian Islamic Jihad, another militant group in Gaza, which has released multiple videos of him in captivity, including one just hours before his release. Eli Sharabi, 52 Eli Sharabi was taken captive by the militants from Kibbutz Beeri, a communal farm that was one of the hardest hit in the Hamas attack. His British-born wife, Lianne, and their teenage daughters, Noiya and Yahel, were killed by militants while hiding in their safe room. His brother, Yossi Sharabi, who lived next door, was killed in captivity. Hamas militants are holding his body, according to the hostage forum. Eli Sharabi’s home bore marks from the attack months later. AP journalists saw bullet holes in the walls and the shattered oven and TV screens. Nearby homes were torched by militants and their roofs blasted off during fighting on Oct. 7. Ohad Ben Ami, 56 Ohad Ben Ami, a father to three, was taken captive with his wife, Raz, from Kibbutz Beeri, where he was an accountant. Raz Ben Ami was released during the weeklong ceasefire in November 2023. Trump living in Russian-made disinformation space: Ukraine's Zelenskyy The hostage forum described Ohad Ben Ami as a “passionate nature enthusiast” and the “cornerstone of his family.” Or Levy, 34 Or Levy was pulled out of a bomb shelter by militants near the Nova music festival in southern Israel. His wife, Einav Levy, was killed during the attack. Their son, Almog, now 3, has been in the care of relatives since the assault. Levy was taken captive alongside American-Israeli Hersh Goldberg-Polin as well as two other hostages — Eliya Cohen and Alon Ohel. Goldberg-Polin, whose parents staged a high-profile campaign for his release, was killed in Hamas captivity. Or Levy is from the city of Rishon Lezion, where he worked as a computer programmer for a startup. Keith Siegel, 65 Keith Siegel, from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, was abducted with his wife, Aviva Siegel, from Kibbutz Kfar Aza, a farming community heavily damaged by the attack. She was freed during the November 2023 ceasefire deal, and has campaigned across the world for the release of her husband and other hostages. Aviva Siegel said that she was held hostage with her husband during her 51 days in captivity. She said she took comfort from having her husband by her side as they were moved from tunnel to tunnel, the two given almost no food or water. Her parting words to him were, “Be strong for me.” Ofer Kalderon, 54 Ofer Kalderon, a French-Israeli hostage, was taken captive from Kibbutz Nir Oz. His teenage children, Sahar and Erez, were also abducted and freed during the weeklong ceasefire in 2023. Arbel Yehoud, 29 Arbel Yehoud was taken hostage with her boyfriend, Ariel Cunio, from Kibbutz Nir Oz. A third-generation resident of the kibbutz, she loves science and space, and her friends held a public star gazing to mark her birthday in captivity. Her brother, Dolev Yehoud, was killed on Oct. 7. Agam Berger, 20 In videos of Agam Berger’s abduction, her face is covered in blood, though it’s unclear if it is from her own wound or those of other soldiers. Berger is a violin player from a suburb of Tel Aviv who enlisted in the army just two months before the attack. Berger was released after other female soldiers taken from the Nahal Oz military base. Gadi Moses, 80 Gadi Moses was one of the oldest hostages who remained in captivity in Gaza. Pakistan plans to expel entire Afghan refugee population: Afghan Embassy He was taken from his home on Kibbutz Nir Oz, one of the communities hardest-hit in the Hamas-led attack. The hostage forum described Moses as an expert agronomist who lectured on agriculture and helped maintain the kibbutz’s vegetable garden. Moses’ partner, Efrat, was killed during the attack. Watchara Sriaoun, 33 In the Oct. 7 attack, militants overran the compound where agricultural workers lived on Kibbutz Nir Oz. Out of the 16 Thai workers living there, 11 were killed and five, including Watchara Sriaoun, were abducted. They were among at least 31 Thai workers taken in the assault. In the November 2023 ceasefire, 23 were released in a deal negotiated between Thailand and Hamas, with assistance from Qatar and Iran. Sathian Suwannakham, 35 Sathian Suwannakham was also taken from Nir Oz. The kibbutz has continued to advocate for the release of the Thai workers by posting regularly about them on social media, in addition to the Israeli hostages. Surasak Rumnao, 32 Surasak Rumnao was abducted from the town of Yesha, located near the southern Gaza Strip. His mother, Khammee Lamnao, said the Thai Embassy in Israel called her to let her know her son would be released. Pongsak Thaenna, 36 Pongsak Thaenna was also taken from the town of Yesha. Thais make up the largest group of foreigners held in Gaza. In the early days after the Oct. 7 attack, then-Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin pressed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in phone conversations to assist the Thai hostages. Bannawat Saethao, 27 Bannawat Saethao was also abducted from the town of Yesha. Liri Albag, 19 Liri Albag, who was among those abducted from the Nahal Oz military base, was featured in a video Hamas released in early January, filmed under duress. Her family said the video was “difficult to watch” because of Albag’s clear emotional distress. They were particularly active in the protest movement pushing for a deal with Hamas to bring the hostages home. Karina Ariev, 20 Karina Ariev was also taken from Nahal Oz. Just before she was abducted, she she sent a message to her family, saying: “If I don’t live, take care of mom and dad all their lives. Don’t give up, live,” according to Israeli media. Her family said she loves to cook, sing, dance and write poetry. Daniella Gilboa, 20 Also taken from Nahal Oz, Daniella Gilboa was originally named Danielle. Her parents changed it after she was taken captive, in line with a Jewish tradition that is believed to bring God’s protection. Gilboa, from Petah Tikva, a suburb of Tel Aviv, played piano and studied music in high school. She dreams of being a singer, according to Israeli media. Naama Levy, 20 The footage from Naama Levy’s abduction, in which she is wearing gray sweatpants covered in blood, was shown around the world. Levy, among those taken from Nahal Oz, is a triathlete. When she was younger, she participated in the “Hands of Peace” delegation, which brings together Americans, Israelis and Palestinians to work on coexistence. Romi Gonen, 24 Romi Gonen was taken from the Nova music festival in southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. She spoke to her family for nearly five hours as militants marauded through the festival grounds. She told them that roads clogged with abandoned cars made escape impossible and that she would seek shelter in some bushes. Her father, Eitan Goren, said she survived in part by learning Arabic, as it was the only way to communicate with her captors. “I just enjoy being with her even in silence, touching, hugging, watching her,” he said, a week after her release. “I missed it so much.” Emily Damari, 28 Emily Damari is a British-Israeli citizen abducted from her apartment on Kibbutz Kfar Aza. She lived in a small apartment in a neighborhood for young adults, the closest part of the kibbutz to Gaza. Militants broke through the border fence of the kibbutz and ransacked the neighborhood. The day after her release, Emily’s mother, Mandy, said her daughter was “in high spirits and on the road to recovery.” Doron Steinbrecher, 31 Doron Steinbrecher is a veterinary nurse who loves animals, and a neighbor to Damari in Kibbutz Kfar Aza. Steinbrecher holds both Israeli and Romanian citizenship. Steinbrecher was featured in a video released by Hamas in January 2024, along with two female Israeli soldiers. Her brother said the video gave them hope that she was alive but sparked concern because she looked tired, weak and gaunt.