Author: David Leibermann

TEL AVIV — “They are in our hands,” IDF spokesperson Daniel Hagari said on the huge screen that was broadcasting the tense release of the three hostages returned to Israel, Romi Gonen, Emily Damari and Doron Steinbrecher. The statement, echoing the famous 1967 declaration after the Israeli army’s capture of the Western Wall in Jerusalem, […]

Donald Trump celebrated the release of three Israeli hostages from Hamas captivity, and has signaled that he is committed to fully implementing the ceasefire in Gaza. “Hostages starting to come out today! Three wonderful young women will be first,” the incoming president posted on social media. He wrote the post hours before Emily Damari, Doron […]

In a brief address on his last full day as president, Joe Biden hailed the ceasefire and hostage release in Gaza and predicted Hamas would not regain power. He also defended his support for Israel in the 15 months since Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack. Biden spoke as Israeli hostages Emily Damari, Doron Steinbrecher and […]

The ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war went into effect on Sunday morning as Hamas has named the three hostages that it plans to release on the first day. As expected, the first three Israelis set for release are civilian women who were abducted on Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas terrorists invaded southern Israel. They are: […]

Israel reportedly expects a ceasefire in the Gaza war to proceed even though Hamas has yet to name the hostages it will release on Sunday. On Saturday, the terror group was expected to name the three civilian women it would release. But as Sunday began in Israel, Hamas had yet to provide the list of […]

One of the most lasting images of late November 2023 — alongside tearful photos of freed Israeli hostages reuniting with their loved ones — was a video of a resident of Kfar Aza breathlessly listing the names of the liberated captives, before shouting the Shema. The clip epitomized the joy and relief felt across Israel […]

After more than a day of delays, Israel’s security cabinet has approved an agreement to stop the fighting in Gaza, paving the way for hostages to be released beginning on Sunday. Later on Friday, the full Israeli government will assemble to approve the deal, which negotiators reached earlier this week. Despite opposition from far-right factions […]

Their names, faces and stories have resonated around the world, on posters and in prayers, since they were taken hostage on Oct. 7, 2023. Now, some of the 98 remaining hostages abducted that day, when Hamas invaded southern Israel, could soon be free. Under the terms of a ceasefire deal nearing final approval on Friday, […]

Oct. 18, 2011, was a landmark day in Israeli history. Five years after he was kidnapped by Hamas terrorists, the Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit was released from captivity in Gaza and photographed in uniform saluting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in what felt like an iconic moment and a sign of the success of a committed […]