Naama Levy, one of the four IDF soldiers released from Hamas captivity on Saturday, writes a message of gratitude in her first statement since arriving home.
The female Israeli hostages who were freed on Saturday disobeyed their Hamas captors and made victory poses during the hand off ceremony to spoil the terrorists’ show, one of their fathers,
Two hundred Palestinian prisoners have also been released today by Israel in the latest stage of a ceasefire deal.
Romi Gonen, Emily Damari and Doron Steinbrecher were the first three hostages released from Gaza on Sunday morning. They arrived in Israel, the military announced, hours after the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas took hold.
Hamas is rushing to reassert control over the territory it has ruled since 2007. Its leaders are exuberant—at least in public. In private, they are arguing bitterly. The war has deepened a longtime struggle between the group’s political and military leaders and has saddled it with enormous challenges.
Israel has failed to defeat Hamas, but Palestinians in Gaza express mixed feelings about the group remaining in power.
Eight hostages − three Israelis and five Thai nationals − were returned to Israel on Thursday after spending 482 days in Hamas captivity in Gaza. They were freed in an at-times chaotic handover in connection with a weeks-long ceasefire and hostages-for-prisoners swap between Israel and the militant group aimed at ending 15 months of fighting.
The Palestinian Islamist group Hamas has handed over to mediators a list showing that 25 Israeli hostages are still alive, out of 33 scheduled for release, an official of the group told Reuters on Monday.
“I’m so glad you’re okay and home,” shared UF student, Lauren Robbins. Robbins is relieved that her friend, 19-year-old Liri Albag is free after being held hostage by Hamas, and emotions are running high in Israel and right here in Gainesville.
RAMAT GAN, Israel -- For more than 470 days, Eitan Gonen publicly pleaded with his daughter to stay alive while in Hamas captivity. He didn't know if she would hear him, but he ended every interview he gave with the same hopeful message: Romi is coming home alive.
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan met with Hamas leader Muhammad Ismail Darwish in Ankara on Wednesday, Erdogan's office said in a statement.
The hostages are the second set to be released since the multiphase agreement came into effect, raising hopes for a lasting end to the war.