Baruch was murdered on October 7 near Kibbutz Mefalsim on the Gaza border after escaping from the Nova music festival. In his eulogy, President Herzog apologized to Baruch in the name of Israel – 'Sorry that it took such a long time for you to return to your homeland'
Violent clashes between Hamas forces and local armed fighters have broken out across Gaza in recent days. Opponents of Hamas describe it as an act of intimidation and attempt to assert control on the ground before the arrival of an Arab or international force
This week marks the first protest since the war ended and all living hostages were released from Gaza. 'The government and its leaders are responsible for all the murdered hostages,' said Einav Zangauker, mother of Matan, freed this week from Gaza, adding: 'Our fight won't end until they are all returned'
Margalit's body was transferred by the Red Cross to Israeli forces stationed inside the Gaza Strip after receiving the coffin at 11:30 P.M. on Friday. Hamas did not disclose the identity of the body. There are now 18 deceased hostages being held in Gaza
Only a few years ago, Turkey was considered 'worse than Iran.' Now, alongside former foes Qatar and Egypt, it will be a key player in the establishment of an interim government in Gaza, the management of the Strip's reconstruction budget and the disarmament of Hamas
It is unclear who will lead the International Stabilization Force in Gaza, how long it will take to establish or how the U.S. will prevent Hamas from taking over the evacuated areas. The bodies of hostages that have yet to be returned could become a twilight zone that Netanyahu thrives on
Three emotional days have passed for the Cohen family since their son, Nimrod, was freed from Hamas captivity on Monday. In an interview with Haaretz, his brother Yotam said that the struggle isn't over yet, as 19 deceased hostages remain in Gaza
At Israel's state memorial for soldiers killed during the Gaza war, Netanyahu said that 'the struggle is not yet over.' President Isaac Herzog said in his speech that Israel must 'create a vision for the future, for the "day after'' – both domestically and internationally'
With a cease-fire in Gaza, and a Supreme Court deadline, Netanyahu will look for ways to circumvent the the establishment of a commission of inquiry into the failures leading to October 7 – and any accountability. Israelis must hope the courts are still strong enough to stand up to him
Trump's plan for Gaza leaves an opening for Hamas to become an unarmed political movement. Israel must prepare for the possibility that, just as Trump legitimized Al-Sharaa's terrorist militias in Syria and signed agreements with the Taliban in Afghanistan, he might well view Hamas, too, as a 'deserving' organization if it just agrees to disarm
Throughout the Gaza war, foreign journalists have only been allowed to enter areas controlled by the army, and only when accompanied by IDF spokesmen, who prevented them from freely covering the war
Israeli speeches and rallies over the past days have demonstrated complete disregard for pain and suffering in Gaza, and the destruction that the IDF has left behind
Now that a cease-fire is in place, one of Israel's many reckonings must address the belief that good hasbara can distract the world from bad policies, like the humanitarian crisis in Gaza or the suppression of Palestinian self-determination
While talks are still preliminary, Hamas and Israel are expected to negotiate a host of critical issues in post-war Gaza. The U.S. will likely push for the Palestinian Authority to eventually take over Gaza, a move which Netanyahu has opposed
Hamas has informed mediators it will begin transferring the bodies of four deceased Israeli hostages to Israel at 10 P.M. local time. Families of the hostages urged Israel and the mediators to suspend the Gaza cease-fire deal following the violation
"One of the ways in which the Gaza genocide is worse than... even the Holocaust – is that you didn’t have... Nazis mocking the genocide after it was over," Hasan wrote.
The bulk of detainees, who were arrested in Gaza during the war because they were classified as 'illegal combatants' by the IDF, were transported back to the Strip with the assistance of the Red Cross. Most of the prisoners will be deported after their release
With living hostages freed, attention turns to the painful mission of retrieving the remains of those still held in Gaza. These are the stories of the 28 deceased Israeli hostages
One of the prisoners slated for release is Dr. Hossam Abu Safiya, director of the Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza, who was detained by the IDF in December 2024, and whose arrest led to harsh international criticism of Israel
The last 20 living hostages taken by Hamas on October 7 were released from Gaza on Monday under the cease-fire deal, bringing to an end 738 days of captivity that began with the deadliest attack in Israel's history. 28 hostages remain in Gaza. Their bodies are expected to be returned soon