On October 7, 2023, several Hamas terrorists infiltrated southern Israel and managed to take several hundred people back to Gaza as hostages, in addition to murdering over 1,200 people.
Their safety has been the subject of great concern to the Israeli public, who campaign for their release and safety as the IDF's war on Hamas continues. So far, several hostages have been released, most of them due to a ceasefire and prisoner exchange. Several hostages, including some who had been held captive by Hamas for several years prior to the war, were further released as part of the 2025 ceasefire and hostage release deal.
It is currently unknown exactly how many hostages are currently alive in Gaza.
Israel also insists that, as part of such a deal, the mediators should be informed of the hostages' nutritional and health conditions.
The government has a responsibility to bring home all hostages, but it is not their top priority.
Hostage families gathered outside Ron Dermer's home, urging him to secure their loved ones' return by Passover amid stalled negotiations.
"The hostages feel now that they could be collateral damage; a terrible feeling, believe me," said Iair Horn.
In February 2024, Kibbutz Be’eri announced that Godard had been murdered on October 7, and his body was taken by terrorists into Gaza.
"Israel is certainly considering the possibility that these protests are a deception tactic by Hamas," an Israeli official said.
Security sources told Reuters on Thursday that Egypt had received positive indications from Israel over a new ceasefire proposal that would include a transitional phase.
The 35-year-old, who has spent over a year in Hamas captivity, suffers from asthma.
The mother of Matan Zangauker accused PM Netanyahu of "tattooing the souls of our loved ones with numbers" like Nazis did during the Holocaust.
Hamas reportedly agreed to release five hostages in exchange for renewing the ceasefire in Gaza.
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