Gaza hostages

Brother of former hostage Avera Mengitsu missing, police ask public for help with search

Ashgara Mengistu, a 34-year-old resident of Ashkelon, left his mother's home in Ma'ale Adumim on Sunday and hasn't been seen since, the police reported.

|ByTOBIAS HOLCMAN
Ashgara Mengistu, Avera Mengitsu's brother, is missing.
Noam Bettan will represent Israel at Eurovision 2026.

Noam Bettan wins Next Star reality show, to represent Israel at Eurovision 2026

Noam Bettan wins Next Star for Eurovision and prepares to showcase his soulful performance for Israel on the world stage in Vienna.

|ByHANNAH BROWN
Poster of hostage Yonatan Mordechai Samerano during demonstrations for the hostages still held in Gaza.

Family of slain hostage sues UNRWA for alleged role in October 7 kidnapping, murder

The lawsuit names UNRWA, a UNRWA employee alleged to have taken part in the attack, and several current and former senior UNRWA officials as defendants.

|BySARAH BEN-NUN
Bereaved families and opposition MKs formed a separate committee meeting in the Knesset in protest of the first debate advancing the government bill that aims to establish a politically appointed committee to investigate the failures surrounding the October 7 attacks.

Bereaved families protest Knesset debate on political probe into Oct. 7 failings

Bereaved families, victims of the October 7 attacks, and parents of former hostages attended the panel.

|ByKESHET NEEV

Former hostage Bar Kupershtein: 'Thieves broke into my car, stole my phone'

"I woke up, went to my car, and found out that it had been broken into," Kupershtein said.

DECEMBER 7, 2025ByJAMES GENN
Smashed glass in Bar Kupershtein's vehicle, December 7, 2025.

Hamas launches search across Gaza City to locate remains of last hostage Ran Gvili

N12 News reported on Friday that Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad know how to find Gvili’s body to return it to Israel.

DECEMBER 7, 2025ByAMICHAI STEIN, JERUSALEM POST STAFF
An International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) official speaks with an Islamic Jihad and Hamas terrorists after transporting a white body bag believed to carry the remains of an Israeli hostage in the town of Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip on December 3, 2025.

Netanyahu ‘not leaving’ politics for pardon, PM says next to Germany’s Friedrich Merz

Netanyahu also praised the Israel–Germany cooperation in high-tech, AI, and quantum technologies.

DECEMBER 7, 2025ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz holds a joint press conference with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem, December 7, 2025 Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seen in a press conference with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, in Jerusalem, December 7, 2025

Netanyahu trial: Court cancels Monday hearing due to ‘urgent diplomatic meeting’

As a result, Netanyahu is now set to testify only on Tuesday and Wednesday, from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. - a shortened schedule confirmed by the court.

DECEMBER 7, 2025BySARAH BEN-NUN
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks at the Knesset’s 40-signature debate, November 10, 2025.

Israel to Hamas in Cairo: Return Ran Gvili’s remains, accept Gaza disarmament terms - N12

The Coordinator for Hostages and Missing Persons Gal Hirsch left for Cairo for talks on Gvili's return, as well as advancement to the second phase of the hostage and ceasefire deal.

DECEMBER 6, 2025ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF
A woman holds a picture of dead hostage Ran Gvili, whose body hasn't been returned yet, as Israelis attend a rally calling for the immediate return of the remains of all hostages held in Gaza, more than two years after the deadly October 7, 2023, attack on Israel by Hamas, at Hostages Square.

'There was nothing I could do': Thai family's long wait for slain Gaza hostage ends

For months, the family waited through multiple hostage releases, hoping Sudthisak would be among those freed alive. Each time brought disappointment.

DECEMBER 6, 2025ByREUTERS
On Rinthalak, 80, mother of deceased Thai hostage Sudthisak Rinthalak, who was kidnapped to Gaza in the deadly October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas, sits next to his pictures at their house in Nong Khai province, Thailand, December 5, 2025.

Ran Gvili's sister Shira asks Phase Two of deal not be implemented until brother's remains returns

Ran's sister, Shira, asked that Phase 2 of the US-brokered hostage-ceasefire deal not be implemented until the return of her brother's remains.

DECEMBER 6, 2025ByURI SELA, JERUSALEM POST STAFF
Shira Gvili, sister to Ran Gvili, the last remaining hostage held in Gaza, at Hostages Square, December 5, 2025.

Until the last hostage: Bring slain captive Ran Gvili home now - editorial

St. Sgt.-Maj. Ran Gvili, the last October 7 hostage, is still held by Hamas in Gaza. It is Israel's moral imperative to bring him home.

DECEMBER 5, 2025ByJPOST EDITORIAL
Posters of Ran Gvili, whose body is still being held captive by Hamas in Gaza, seen at Hostage Square in Tel Aviv. December 02, 2025.

Trump to announce transition to Phase II of Gaza deal, 'Board of Peace' by Christmas - Axios

The report cited two US officials and a Western source familiar with the details.

DECEMBER 5, 2025ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF
US President Donald Trump poses with the signed agreement at a world leaders' summit on ending the Gaza war, amid a US-brokered prisoner-hostage swap and ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, October 13, 2025.

Israeli delegation heads to Cairo to secure release of last slain hostage Ran Gvili

At the end of the discussions, both parties agreed to an "intensive and immediate effort" to locate slain hostage Ran Gvili's remains. 

DECEMBER 4, 2025ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF
Activists hold signs calling for the return of the final two hostages' remains, including St.-Sgt.-Maj. Ran Gvili, at Hostage Square, Tel Aviv, November 29, 2025.