All articles tagged with #hostage recovery
Israel plans to halve aid into Gaza due to slow return of dead hostages, amid ongoing ceasefire and negotiations involving Hamas, with international concerns over humanitarian and political developments.
The IDF and Shin Bet recovered the body of hostage Idan Shtivi from Gaza, confirming his death nearly a year after he was abducted during Hamas' attack on October 7, 2023. His family believed he might still be alive until the body was found, and his death was officially confirmed through intelligence assessments. Prime Minister Netanyahu acknowledged his heroism and expressed condolences, emphasizing ongoing efforts to recover all hostages.
The IDF recovered the body of hostage Yair Yaakov from the Gaza Strip, confirming his murder in Hamas captivity, with his son expressing grief and hope for future releases; the event has prompted reactions from Israeli leaders and ongoing calls to bring all hostages home.
The US State Department has increased efforts to warn Americans against traveling to Venezuela, which is holding more US citizens in detention than any other country, with at least eight known cases. The department has issued a Level 4 travel advisory, citing risks of detention and coercion, and has successfully negotiated the release of several Americans from Venezuelan custody without concessions. The situation underscores the dangers for Americans and their families traveling or residing near Venezuela.
The Israeli military recovered the body of Elad Katzir, an Israeli hostage who died while being held by Palestinian Islamic Jihad in the Gaza Strip. Katzir's sister expressed relief at the return of his body but criticized the Israeli government for not reaching a deal to save him. Katzir was taken hostage in October and his father was killed during the attack. The IDF stated its commitment to locating and returning the remaining hostages in Gaza, while Hamas indicated willingness to join talks for a hostage deal in Cairo.
Israeli special forces have recovered the body of 28-year-old hostage Elia Toledano, who was taken by Hamas from a music festival in southern Israel. The body was found in the Gaza Strip, and an identification procedure was carried out by medical officials, military rabbis, and forensic experts. Over 130 hostages still remain in Gaza, with some being declared dead in absentia by Israeli authorities.
The Pentagon has confirmed that it has been flying unarmed surveillance drones over Gaza in support of hostage recovery efforts following the recent attack by Hamas on Israel. The drones, identified as MQ-9 Reapers, have been spotted circling Gaza on flight-tracking websites. The US military officials clarified that the drones are not involved in coordinating Israeli military action but are providing information related to hostage recovery to the Israelis. Additionally, the US Navy has announced the successful firing of lethal munitions from an unmanned surface vehicle (USV) in the Arabian Sea, marking the first time combat munitions have been fired from a USV in the Middle East.
The Pentagon has confirmed that the US is flying unarmed reconnaissance drones over Gaza to assist in the search for hostages taken from Israel on October 7. While the US is providing advice and assistance to support Israel's hostage recovery efforts, it has made it clear that it will not be sending combat troops or its own forces into Gaza. The US has repositioned troops to other parts of the Middle East to deter further escalation of the Israel-Hamas conflict and increase force protection.
The US military is deploying surveillance drones over Gaza to assist Israel in locating the more than 240 hostages held by Hamas. The drones are part of a surge of intelligence assets sent to the region following the October 7 attack on Israel. In addition to Gaza, US drones were also spotted off the coast of Lebanon, monitoring for any signs of escalation by Iranian proxy forces. The imagery gathered by the drones may have limited effectiveness in locating hostages, as they are believed to be held in underground tunnels. US officials emphasize that the intelligence shared with Israel is focused on hostage recovery and not targeting Hamas leaders. US special operations personnel are advising the Israel Defense Forces on hostage recovery efforts, while the Biden administration has provided lethal aid.