United Nations Secretary-General Picco, who helped end the Iran-Iraq war and free hostages, dies

Giandomenico Picco, the former United Nations diplomat whose negotiating skills helped resolve some of the toughest crises of the 1980s and 1990s, including the Iran-Iraq war and the kidnapping of Westerners by Hezbollah in Lebanon, has died. Pico died peacefully on Sunday after a long illness, his son Giacomo Pico said. He is 75 years … Read more

Thousands of Israelis rally to demand hostages release, Netanyahu to step down

Tel Aviv, Israel—— Chanting “Elections now!” and “Bring back the hostages now!” Thousands of Israeli demonstrators gathered in Tel Aviv on Saturday to demand the resignation of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, five months after the war in Gaza. The crowd, wearing T-shirts and banners bearing the names and photos of hostages taken in Hamas’s Oct. … Read more

The United States holds first day of commemoration of American hostages

Washington—— The United States on Saturday marked the first American Hostage and Wrongful Detention Day to honor Americans held captive abroad. Last year, bipartisan legislation in the House and Senate first designated the day to mark the one-year anniversary of the kidnapping of former FBI agent Robert Levinson, considered the longest-held American hostage in history. … Read more

UN finds ‘compelling information’ that Hamas raped and tortured hostages

A United Nations panel said there were “reasonable grounds” to believe Hamas raped and tortured women during an attack on Israel on October 7 and that hostages were subjected to the same violence. Pramila Patten, the United Nations special envoy on sexual violence in conflict, said: “There are reasonable grounds to believe that conflict-related sexual … Read more

US says Israel has agreed to ceasefire in Gaza if Hamas hostages are released

A senior U.S. official says the framework for a six-week ceasefire in Gaza is in place and Israel has agreed. The first pause in fighting since November hinges on whether Hamas agrees to the release of hostages deemed vulnerable, including the sick, wounded, elderly and women, and the United States. government officials said. Israel also … Read more

Israel demands to know fate of hostages before joining ceasefire talks

Mediators and Hamas have arrived in Cairo for talks on a new ceasefire in the Israel-Gaza war, but Israel is reportedly demanding guarantees over the fate of the hostages before participating. The United States says the six-day pause – which will involve the release of more Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners – has been “more … Read more

Israel and Hamas reach ‘semi-agreed’ ceasefire, release hostages during Ramadan

US President Joe Biden’s prediction of a ceasefire in Gaza within a week is “overly optimistic”, Israeli security sources say, saying negotiators are racing against time to reach a deal before Ramadan next month. Biden claimed on a US talk show late on Monday that Israel had agreed “that they will not engage in activities … Read more

WATCH: Israeli troops brave fire to rescue 2 hostages in courageous Operation Rafah

Fernando Maman, 61, and Louis Har, 70, were among the 253 hostages kidnapped by Hamas. New Delhi: Israel announced on Monday that it had successfully rescued two hostages in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, sparking relief and reigniting concerns about an escalating humanitarian crisis in the region. The operation, a joint military operation by … Read more

Hamas armed wing says three hostages injured in Israeli attack died

Jerusalem: The armed wing of Hamas said on Monday that three of the eight hostages seriously injured in Israeli air strikes died from their injuries. “We will postpone publishing the names and photos of the deceased in the coming days until the fate of the remaining injured becomes clear,” the Qassam Brigades said in a … Read more

Two Gaza hostages weep, hug as reunited with family in Israeli hospital

Louis Har, 70, and Fernando Simon Marman, 60, are embraced by relatives at Sheba Hospital Ramat Gan, Israel: Hugs and tears filled Israel’s largest hospital on Monday as two Gaza hostages were reunited with their families after being rescued from a deadly military attack. Louis Har, 70, and Fernando Simon Marman, 60, hugged relatives at … Read more