Israel

Freed Israeli hostage describes deteriorating conditions while being held by Hamas

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — An Israeli hostage freed by Hamas said in an interview that she was initially fed well in captivity until conditions worsened and people became hungry. She was kept in a “suffocating” room and slept on plastic chairs with a sheet for nearly 50 days.

Fragile truce in Gaza is extended as Israel faces pressure to spare civilians if fighting resumes

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — A fragile truce between Israel and Hamas entered its fifth day on Tuesday, with the militant group promising to release more hostages to delay the expected resumption of the war and Israel under growing pressure to spare Palestinian civilians when it renews its offensive.

Israel and Hamas look open to extending truce on its final day, with one more hostage swap planned

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Israel and Hamas appeared open to extending a cease-fire in Gaza that has halted their deadliest and most destructive war but is set to expire after Monday, with a fourth exchange of militant-held hostages for Palestinians imprisoned by Israel planned for later in the day.

Israel has said it would extend the cease-fire by one day for every 10 additional hostages released. Hamas has also said it hopes to extend the four-day truce, which came into effect Friday after several weeks of indirect negotiations mediated by the United States, Qatar and Egypt.

Israel: Irregular meals, benches as beds. As freed hostages return to Israel, details of captivity emerge

JERUSALEM (AP) — Plastic chairs as beds. Meals of bread and rice. Hours spent waiting for the bathroom. As former hostages return to Israel after seven weeks of Hamas captivity, information about the conditions of their confinement has emerged.

The 58 hostages freed under a cease-fire deal over the past three days have largely stayed out of the public eye, with most still in hospitals.

Israel: Palestinian militants kill 2 alleged informers for Israel and mob drags bodies through camp alleys

JERUSALEM (AP) — Palestinian militants in a West Bank refugee camp shot and killed two alleged collaborators with Israel early Saturday, Palestinian officials said. Mobs then kicked the bloodied corpses and dragged them through alleys before trying to tie them to an electrical tower.

Israel: Families of hostages not slated for release from Gaza during current truce face enduring nightmare

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Ofri Bibas Levy has been haunted by nightmares since Oct. 7, when her brother, sister-in-law and their two young children were snatched by Hamas militants from their homes and dragged into the Gaza Strip.

In those dreams she sees her captive relatives, all except for her brother Yarden. That subconscious omission may reflect her ordeal: Only women and children are expected to be among the 50 hostages released during a four-day cease-fire between Israel and Hamas that started Friday.

Israel: Ben-Gvir threatens to resign from gov’t if attacks on Gaza stop after the truce

23 November 2023; MEMO: Israel’s Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben-Gvir, yesterday announced that he would resign from the government if the attacks on the Gaza Strip are not resumed after the end of the expected humanitarian truce.

Ben-Gvir made the remarks during an interview with the right-wing Israeli Channel 14, hours before the prisoner exchange deal between the occupying state and Hamas entered into force.

Israel's Netanyahu says hostage deal 'not without challenges'

23 November 2023; MEMO: Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu cited, on Thursday, challenges in reaching a deal to free Israeli hostages held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip, Anadolu Agency reports.

“We hope to get our hostages out — it’s not without its challenges, but we have to, we hope to get this first tranche out and then we’re committed to getting everyone out,” Netanyahu said during a meeting with UK Foreign Secretary, David Cameron.

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