US holds talks with Hamas for release of American hostages

Hamas releases six Israeli hostages as ceasefire holds

Six living hostages — including two who were held in Gaza for a decade — were released by Hamas Saturday.

CBS News - Feb. 22

U.S., Hamas Hold Direct Talks Over Hostages in Gaza, Officials Say

The talks marked a significant departure from previous negotiations involving the United States and Hamas, which the U.S. government has for decades designated as a terrorist group.

The New York Times - 21h

U.S. and Hamas Hold Direct Talks on Hostages in Gaza, Officials Say

The talks marked a significant departure for the United States, which has generally refused to talk directly with groups Washington has designated as terrorist organizations.

The New York Times - 10h

Trump issues 'last warning' to Hamas as US confirms direct hostage talks

The president also appeared to threaten civilians in Gaza, saying they would be "dead" if they held hostages.

BBC News - 6h

Hostages released by Hamas as ceasefire holds; family confirms return of Shiri Bibas' remains

Overnight, Hamas freed six more Israeli hostages in Gaza. The release is happening despite heightened tensions between Hamas and Israel after the terror group handed over a body that was ...

CBS News - Feb. 22

Hostages released by Hamas reunite with their families

Israeli hostages Tal Shoham, Omer Shem Tov, Omer Wenkert and Eliya Cohen were kidnapped by Hamas during the Oct. 7, 2023 attacks and among six hostages released in the final exchange of the first ...

NBC News - Feb. 22

Hamas Releases Bodies of 4 Israeli Hostages

Hamas said it handed over four hostages to Israel in a display a senior U.N. official called “abhorrent and cruel.” Israel later said only three bodies belonged to captives.

The New York Times - Feb. 21

Trump says it is ‘over’ for Hamas unless hostages are released

US president says Washington will send ‘Israel everything it needs to finish the job’ in Gaza

Financial Times - 17h

Israel says slain Israeli mother was not among hostage remains released by Hamas

Hamas plans to release six more Israeli hostages this week, and in turn, Israel will return and release 600 Palestinian prisoners. The latest swap is part of the ceasefire deal, which is still ...

CBS News - Feb. 21

Body released by Hamas is Israeli hostage Shiri Bibas, family says

Human remains returned by Hamas to Israel on Friday are those of hostage Shiri Bibas, her family said Saturday, two days after the Palestinian militant group returned the wrong body.

NBC News - Feb. 22

Hamas hands over six hostages but Israel suspends release of 600 Palestinians

Ceasefire in jeopardy as Israel says it will wait ‘until release of next hostages is guaranteed’ and Hamas scraps ‘degrading’ handover ceremonies. Hamas released six Israeli hostages on Saturday, ...

The Guardian - Feb. 22

Hamas releases all 6 hostages as planned in latest exchange

Hamas released six living hostages on Saturday in separate locations of the Gaza Strip.

ABC News - Feb. 22

Body released by Hamas is Israeli hostage Shiri Bibas, family says

Yahoo News - Feb. 23

Israel Delays Prisoner Release After Hamas Frees 6 Hostages

Israel was supposed to release 620 Palestinian prisoners soon after the hostages were handed over. Officials gave no reason for the delay.

The New York Times - Feb. 23

Israel delays prisoner release after Hamas frees six hostages

Yahoo News - Feb. 23

Hamas Frees 6 Hostages as Israel Delays Palestinian Prisoner Release

The six Israelis were the last living captives set to be released in the first phase of the cease-fire. The agreement, strained for weeks, has an uncertain future.

The New York Times - Feb. 23

Hamas to release bodies of 4 dead hostages, Netanyahu says

Yahoo News - Feb. 26

Omer Shem Tov's family will continue fighting for release of Hamas' hostages

Hamas released Israeli hostage Omer Shem Tov's after he spent hundreds of days alone inside a tunnel in captivity after the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks. His cousin, Leat Corinne Unger, joined CBS News ...

CBS News - 6d

Released From Hamas Captivity, a Hostage Finds His Family Gone

Eli Sharabi gave himself up on Oct. 7, 2023, hoping to save his wife and daughters. After some 500 days in the tunnels of Gaza, he emerged to learn that they had been killed.

The New York Times - 3d

Trump says Hamas will be 'over' unless it releases all hostages

President Trump on Wednesday issued a warning to Hamas to release its remaining hostages after the White House held direct talks with the group officially designated as a terrorist organization. ...

The Hill - 17h

Food supplies dwindling in Gaza as Israel pressures Hamas to release hostages

President Trump is vowing there will be "hell to pay" if Hamas doesn't release the remaining hostages. Israel is applying pressure as well by blocking aid convoys of food and medical supplies from ...

CBS News - 14h

Inside Trump’s Deportation Push, and the U.S. Holds Talks With Hamas

Plus, Dolly Parton’s love story.

The New York Times - 5h

Trump warns Hamas as U.S. holds unprecedented talks with the terrorist group

President Trump issued a "last warning" to Hamas to release all hostages it still holds even as the White House confirmed unprecedented direct U.S.-Hamas talks.

CBS News - 2h

Hamas says no Gaza ceasefire talks unless Israel releases prisoners

Israel postponed the release of 600 Palestinians, accusing Hamas of "humiliating" hostage handovers.

BBC News - Feb. 24

Middle East crisis live: Hamas releases six hostages but Israel delays release of 600 Palestinians

Hisham al-Sayed, Tal Shoham, Avera Mengistu, Eliya Cohen, Omer Shem Tov and Omer Wenkert have now been released. A masked militant has sat down at a table on the stage with a Red Cross ...

The Guardian - Feb. 22

Hamas releases more hostages in exchange for more than 600 Palestinian prisoners as part of ceasefire deal

Yahoo News - Feb. 22

Hamas releases 6 more hostages, signals readiness for next phase of shaky ceasefire

Hamas on Saturday released six Israeli hostages in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, signaling readiness for the next phase of a shaky ceasefire. Avera Mengistu and Tal Shoham were ...

The Hill - Feb. 22

Hamas to turn over bodies of four Israeli hostages in exchange for release of hundreds of prisoners

Hamas says that it will return the bodies of four dead hostages on Thursday in exchange for Israel’s release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, two days before the first phase of the ceasefire ...

ABC News - Feb. 26

Hamas says 4 bodies of Israeli hostages returned, the final release of phase one

Hamas said it returned the bodies of four Israeli hostages in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. This was the final hostage release under the first phase of the ceasefire. Negotiations ...

CBS News - Feb. 26

Israel releases over 600 Palestinian prisoners as Hamas returns bodies of four hostages

Gaza ceasefire appears to hold after four-day breach, as Israel says three of four bodies identified as of Thursday morning. See all our Middle East coverage Hamas has handed over the bodies ...

The Guardian - Feb. 27

Hamas releases bodies of 4 hostages as first phase of Gaza ceasefire nears end

In the final exchange of the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire, Hamas released the bodies of four hostages and Israel released hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. The six-week first phase ends on ...

CBS News - Feb. 27

Trump warns that death awaits Hamas leaders and Gazans if hostages aren't immediately released

President Donald Trump on Wednesday threatened to have members of Hamas and Palestinians in Gaza killed if hostages are not immediately released.

NBC News - 17h

Trump posts fresh ultimatum to Hamas as US enters direct talks with group

US president tells group to ‘release all of the Hostages now ... or it is OVER for you’ as White House enters negotiations. Donald Trump has posted a fresh ultimatum to Hamas, telling the group to ...

The Guardian - 17h

EU leaders to hold emergency Ukraine talks, seeking to adapt to new security demands without the US

European Union leaders plan to hold emergency talks to agree ways to quickly increase their military budgets after the Trump administration signaled Europe must take care of its own security and ...

ABC News - 1d