A growing number of Americans now view Israel unfavorably, with more than half expressing distrust in Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s leadership, according to a new Pew Research Center survey. The poll, conducted from March 24 to 30 among 3,605 U.S. adults, found that 53% of Americans now have an unfavorable opinion of Israel, a sharp rise from 42% in 2022. The shift crosses political and generational lines. Among Republicans, negative views of Israel rose to 37%, up from 27% two years ago. Among Democrats, unfavorable sentiment surged to 69%, compared to 53% in 2022. Younger Americans, regardless of party affiliation, are particularly critical: 71% of Democrats under 50 and 50% of Republicans under 50 now view Israel unfavorably. ‘Shame on you all’: Indian-American engineer resigns over Microsoft’s Israel ties The survey also showed a widening trust gap when it comes to Netanyahu. Over half (52%) of respondents said they have little or no confidence in him to handle global affairs appropriately, compared to 32% who expressed confidence. Among Democrats, trust in Netanyahu is especially low — just 15% said they believe he will do the right thing, compared to 51% of Republicans. Even among American Jews, views on Netanyahu are divided: 53% said they lack confidence in him, while 45% expressed support. White evangelical Protestants were the only U.S. religious group where a majority expressed confidence in the Israeli leader. The poll also explored attitudes toward former President Donald Trump’s controversial proposal to have the U.S. take control of the Gaza Strip. A strong majority — 62% — opposed the idea, including 49% who said they “strongly oppose” it. Only 15% supported the proposal, which Trump floated again during a recent meeting with Netanyahu. Bangladesh condemns Israeli killings, human rights violations in Gaza Despite the low support, nearly half of Americans (46%) believe Trump is likely to pursue the policy if re-elected. Within the Republican Party, 44% oppose the idea, while 27% support it. Public interest in the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict appears to be waning. Just 54% of Americans said the war is personally important to them, down from 65% in January. However, the issue remains deeply significant to U.S. Jews, with 93% calling it important and 74% labeling it “very important.” Israel seizes 50% of Gaza by destroying land to extend buffer zone The Pew findings align with a February Gallup poll that also documented declining favorability toward Israel, reflecting broader shifts in public sentiment following the events of October 7, 2023, and the subsequent Gaza conflict. Source: With inputs from agencies  

International cinema has long engaged with the deeply complex realities of Palestine. Over decades, filmmakers have chronicled the Palestine-Israel backdrop with striking honesty and resilience. These cinematic narratives have earned critical acclaim and prestigious awards across global platforms. Let’s explore ten of the greatest films ever made on Palestine that continue to echo far beyond the screen. Top 10 Award-winning Palestinian Movies & Documentaries . No Other Land / 2024 / IMDb: 8.3 / Rotten Tomatoes: 100% (Audience) Created by a Palestinian-Israeli activist collective, the film documents a community’s resistance in the occupied West Bank (2019–2023). It confronts forced displacement after their land was declared an Israeli "firing zone." The documentary boasts Basel Adra, Hamdan Ballal, Yuval Abraham, and Rachel Szor as its writers and directors in their directorial debut. Read more: Farewell to ACP Pradyuman: Tribute to Sony TV Crime Drama CID's Legendary Character This Yabayay Media and Antipode Films Production won Best Documentary Feature Film at the 97th Academy Awards. Full Movie Link:https://www.bilibili.tv/en/video/4794982676436992?bstar_from=bstar-web.homepage.recommend.all Farha / 2021 / IMDb: 8.0 / Rotten Tomatoes: 87% (Audience) Directed and written by Darin J. Sallam, this historical drama film features Karam Taher in the titular role. The supporting cast includes Ashraf Barhom and Ali Suliman. Set during the 1948 Nakba, the film portrays a young Palestinian girl's coming-of-age. The screenplay was inspired by a real-life story of a girl named Radieh, which director Sallam heard in her childhood. Read more: Top 10 Netflix English Originals Releasing in May 2025 The produced credit goes to Deema Azar, William Johansson Kalen, and Ayah Jardaneh. Celebrated for its powerful storytelling, “Farha” seized the top youth feature title at the 2022 Asia Pacific Screen Awards. Instant Movie Stream: https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x8xmpas 5 Broken Cameras / 2011 / IMDb: 7.9 / Rotten Tomatoes: 88% (Audience) Capturing grassroots protests in Bil'in, this documentary unfolds through Emad Burnat’s lens, a Palestinian farmer who began filming in 2005; Israeli filmmaker Guy Davidi joined in 2009. The story revolves around the destruction of Burnat’s five cameras, tracing a family’s life across five years of unrest. This film’s award journey spans Sundance, the Golden Apricot in Yerevan, and a coveted International Emmy win. The crowning moment came with its Best Documentary nomination at the 2013 Oscars. Read more: April 2025 K-Drama Lineup: Top 10 Binge-worthy Premieres Direct Watch Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EcTN3g-b0iA Omar / 2013 / IMDb: 7.5 / Rotten Tomatoes: 84% (Audience) Produced by David Gerson, Hany Abu-Assad, and Waleed Zuaiter, this drama film thrives with the writing and directing of Hany Abu-Assad. The plot centres on a young Palestinian fighter coerced into becoming an informant. He was being manipulated into admitting guilt following an Israeli soldier’s death. Adam Bakri embodies the title character, supported by Waleed Zuaiter and Leem Lubany. Read more: Pakistani Dramas Taking Over 2025: 10 Top Picks for Your Watchlist “Omar” took home accolades from Cannes and the Asia Pacific Screen Awards. Earning a spot among the 86th Oscar nominees for Best Foreign Language Film was its proudest distinction. Streaming Access: https://ww4.fmovies.co/film/omar-10224/ Paradise Now / 2005 / IMDb: 7.4 / Rotten Tomatoes: 87% (Audience) Bankrolled by Bero Beyer, this psychological drama flourishes under the direction of Hany Abu-Assad, who co-wrote it with Pierre Hodgson and Beyer. This intense drama traces the final hours of two childhood friends recruited for a suicide mission in Tel Aviv. Read more: April 2025 Hindi Films Lineup: Top 10 Most Hyped Bollywood Releases Kais Nashef, Ali Suliman, Lubna Azabal, and Hiam Abbass portray the main characters. The movie’s highest recognition arrived with a Golden Globe Award win and an Oscar nomination for the Best Foreign Language Film. Full Access Here: https://www.lookmovie2.to/movies/play/1689756712-paradise-now-2005

Israel has significantly increased its control over the Gaza Strip since resuming its conflict with Hamas last month. It now holds more than half of Gaza, pushing Palestinians into smaller areas of land. The largest area under Israeli control is along the Gaza border, where the military has destroyed Palestinian homes, farmland, and infrastructure, rendering the region uninhabitable. This military buffer zone has doubled in size recently. Israel describes this expansion as a temporary measure to pressure Hamas into releasing hostages taken during the October 7, 2023 attack that initiated the war. However, human rights organizations and Gaza experts argue that the area could be used for long-term control. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated last week that Israel would retain security control in Gaza even after Hamas is defeated and would encourage Palestinians to leave. This systematic destruction near the Israeli border has been ongoing since the war began 18 months ago, according to testimonies from five Israeli soldiers. They shared with The Associated Press how the military razed everything, leaving Palestinians with nothing to return to. Israel ‘deliberately targeting’ journalists in Gaza A report released by Breaking The Silence, an anti-occupation veterans group, detailed how the military's actions in the buffer zone have laid the groundwork for Israeli control of the area. In response to the soldiers’ testimonies, the Israeli army emphasized that its operations are aimed at securing the country and improving security for communities affected by the October 7 attack. In the early stages of the war, Israeli forces forcibly displaced Palestinians near the border, creating a buffer zone more than a kilometer deep. They also seized land in Gaza known as the Netzarim Corridor, isolating the north from the southern part of the territory. Since the conflict resumed last month, the buffer zone has expanded, sometimes extending up to 3 kilometers into Gaza. This zone, along with the Netzarim Corridor, now constitutes at least 50% of Gaza, according to experts. Netanyahu has suggested creating another corridor cutting through southern Gaza to isolate the city of Rafah. Israel’s control of Gaza also includes areas where civilians were recently ordered to evacuate before planned attacks. Satellite images show neighborhoods that once housed hundreds of thousands of Palestinians, now reduced to rubble, with several new Israeli military outposts. After the ceasefire in January, Palestinian Nidal Alzaanin returned to his home in Beit Hanoun, only to find it destroyed. His land now forms part of the buffer zone, and the war’s resumption forced him to leave again. The destruction in the buffer zone has been methodical, with soldiers reporting the demolition of farmland, buildings, and industrial complexes. One soldier described the buffer zone as a "kill zone," with anyone entering the area shot at. The long-term plans for the buffer zone remain unclear, though Netanyahu has said Israel intends to use it to pressure Hamas and push for the removal of Palestinians from Gaza. Rights organizations argue that such actions may amount to war crimes or ethnic cleansing. Israel rejects these accusations, claiming its actions aim to protect civilians.

Israel's military operation in Gaza has expanded to seize "large areas," according to the defence minister, while hospital officials in the Palestinian territory report that Israeli strikes overnight and into Wednesday have killed over 40 people, including nearly a dozen children. Israel’s offensive in Gaza is "expanding to crush and clean the area" of militants while "seizing large areas that will be added to the security zones of the State of Israel," Defence Minister Israel Katz stated in a written announcement. Israel strikes kill 3 in Beirut Israel has long maintained a buffer zone inside Gaza along its security fence, which has significantly expanded since the war began in 2023. While Israel argues that the buffer zone is essential for security, Palestinians see it as a land grab further reducing the already narrow coastal enclave, home to around 2 million people. Katz did not specify which areas of Gaza would be seized in this expanded operation, which he said involves the “extensive evacuation” of residents from combat zones. His remarks followed Israel’s order for a full evacuation of the southern city of Rafah and surrounding areas. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that Israel intends to maintain indefinite but unspecified security control over Gaza once Hamas is defeated. The minister urged Gaza’s residents to "expel Hamas and return all hostages." The militant group still holds 59 captives, 24 of whom are believed to be alive, after most others were freed through ceasefire agreements or other negotiations. “This is the only way to end the war,” Katz declared. Since the collapse of the ceasefire last month, Israel’s expanding areas of operation and evacuation orders have resulted in “no-go” zones covering more than 60% of Gaza, according to Olga Cherevko, spokesperson for the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Aid organisations are offering assistance where possible, though supplies are dwindling due to Israel’s monthlong blockade. These "no-go" zones include the military zone in the Netzarim corridor—an Israeli-controlled strip dividing northern and southern Gaza—as well as the expanded buffer zone and newly designated evacuation areas. The Hostage Families Forum, representing most captives' relatives, expressed shock over the defence minister’s announcement. The group stated that Israel’s government has a duty to secure the release of all 59 hostages and must pursue every possible negotiation channel. “Their lives hang in the balance as more and more disturbing details emerge about the horrific conditions they’re being held in—chained, abused, and in desperate need of medical attention,” the forum said. It urged the Trump administration and other mediators to maintain pressure on Hamas for their release. “Our highest priority must be an immediate deal to bring ALL hostages back home—the living for rehabilitation and those killed for proper burial—and end this war,” the group added. Children killed in strike on UN building Israel continued its strikes on Gaza, with overnight air raids killing 17 people in the southern city of Khan Younis. Another 15 were killed in an attack in northern Gaza on Wednesday, according to hospital officials. At Nasser Hospital, officials said 12 bodies from an overnight airstrike included five women—one of them pregnant—and two children. The Gaza European Hospital reported receiving five bodies from separate airstrikes. Later on Wednesday, officials at the Indonesian Hospital said an Israeli strike on a U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) building in Jabaliya refugee camp killed 15 people, including nine children and two women. The Palestinian Civil Defence reported that the building had previously functioned as a UNRWA clinic but was now housing displaced individuals. It said the attack hit two rooms and that rescue teams retrieved the bodies of seven victims and 12 wounded survivors. Juliette Touma, a spokesperson for UNRWA, stated that the facility was no longer operating as a clinic but served as a shelter for about 735 displaced people from 160 families. Despite warnings from UNRWA staff about the dangers after Wednesday’s attack, many families have remained at the site “simply because they have absolutely nowhere else to go,” Touma said, adding that no UNRWA staff were harmed in the strike. The Israeli military stated that it targeted Hamas operatives in the area, alleging that they were hiding in a “command and control centre” used to coordinate armed activities and functioned as a central meeting place for the group. Separately, the European Hospital confirmed receiving the bodies of eight people killed in Khan Younis, while three others killed in Zawaida in central Gaza were taken to Al-Aqsa Hospital, according to hospital officials. The war began on 7 October 2023, when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel, killing about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking 251 hostages. Israel orders evacuation of most of Rafah Israel’s ongoing offensive has resulted in the deaths of more than 50,000 Palestinians, including hundreds killed since the recent ceasefire ended about two weeks ago, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants. Israel claims to have killed around 20,000 militants, though it has not provided evidence.

Israel’s parliament on Tuesday passed a state budget, a move that shores up Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s governing coalition and grants the embattled leader the chance at months of political stability even as public pressure mounts over the war in Gaza. The budget vote was seen as a key test for Netanyahu’s coalition, which is made up of ultranationalist and ultra-Orthodox parties who had demanded and largely received hefty sums for their constituents in exchange for support for the funding package. By law, the government would fall and elections triggered if a budget weren't passed by March 31. With its passing, Netanyahu buys himself what’s likely to be more than a year of political quiet that could see his government coast through to the end of its term in late 2026, a rare occurrence in Israel’s fractious politics. It’s a political win for Netanyahu, who faces mass protests over his decision to resume the war in Gaza while hostages still remain in Hamas' hands, and over his government’s recent moves to fire top legal and security chiefs. The budget vote could also have implications on the war in Gaza. Netanyahu could feel free to move toward a lasting ceasefire with Hamas since his political allies, who oppose ending the war, have little incentive to trigger new elections while their polling numbers are down, said Gayil Talshir, a political scientist at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Egypt offers new ceasefire proposal amid Israeli strikes killing scores But the vote doesn't mean Netanyahu will move in the direction to end the war, she said. She expected him to further his ultranationalist partners’ agenda to keep them as loyal allies and galvanize the nationalist right ahead of any future vote. “Netanyahu is always thinking about the next elections,” Talshir said. “His goal is to make sure the extreme right will be in his government now and in the future.”

Israel's defines minister said Friday he has ordered ground forces to advance deeper into the Gaza Strip, vowing to hold more land until Hamas releases the remaining hostages it holds. After retaking part of the strategic Netzarim corridor that divides Gaza’s north from south, Israeli troops moved Thursday toward the northern town of Beit Lahiya and the southern border city of Rafah. The military said it had resumed enforcing a blockade on northern Gaza, including Gaza City. In Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was delivered a setback in his attempt to fire the country's domestic security chief. Hours after Netanyahu's Cabinet unanimously approved the firing of Ronen Bar, the Supreme Court ordered a temporary halt to his dismissal until an appeal can be heard. The court said it was delaying the firing until an appeal could be heard no later than April 8. Netanyahu’s office had said Bar’s dismissal was effective April 10, but that it could come earlier if a replacement was found. Israel’s attorney general has ruled that the Cabinet has no legal basis to dismiss Bar. A Shin Bet report into Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack that prompted the war acknowledged failures by the security agency. But it also said policies by Netanyahu’s government created the conditions for the attack. In his comments about Gaza on Friday, Defense Minister Israel Katz said operations there would continue “with increasing intensity until the hostages are released by Hamas.” “The more Hamas continues its refusal to release the kidnapped, the more territory it will lose to Israel,” Katz said. The decision to sack Bar deepens a power struggle focused largely over who bears responsibility for the 2023 Hamas attack that sparked the war in Gaza. Israel resumes Gaza war with broader goals and fewer limits It also could set the stage for a crisis over the country’s division of powers. Israel’s attorney general has ruled that the Cabinet has no legal basis to dismiss Bar. Critics say the move is a power grab by the prime minister against an independent-minded civil servant, and tens of thousands of Israelis have demonstrated in support of Bar, including outside Netanyahu's residence on Friday. In addition to its report on the Oct. 7 attack, Netanyahu is also upset that Shin Bet has launched an investigation into connections between some of his close aides and the Gulf state of Qatar. His office said Bar’s dismissal would take effect on April 10 or before then if a replacement is found. Nearly 600 Palestinians have been killed since Israel on Tuesday shattered a truce that had facilitated the release of more than two dozen hostages and brought relative calm since late January. Israel had already cut off the supply of food, fuel and humanitarian aid to Gaza’s roughly 2 million Palestinians, has said it would escalate military operations until Hamas releases the 59 hostages it holds — 24 of whom are believed alive — and gives up control of the territory. The ceasefire agreed to in mid-January was a three-phase plan meant to lead to a long-term cessation of hostilities, a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, and the return of all hostages taken by Hamas in its surprise attack on Israel.

Israel confirmed on Tuesday that several senior Hamas officials and mid-level commanders, including Issam al-Daalis, head of the Hamas-run government in Gaza, were killed in its latest airstrikes. Al-Daalis was the head of Hamas's Government Administrative Committee in the Gaza Strip, a role comparable to that of a prime minister. The Israeli military and Shin Bet domestic security agency said in a joint statement that al-Daalis succeeded Rawhi Mushtaha as "the head of the Hamas government" after Mushtaha was killed by Israeli forces in July 2024. The statement said several Hamas officials were killed over the past 24 hours in "dozens" of airstrikes. It said that "based on the information available at this stage, it can be determined with high probability" that three other Hamas members were killed. These included Mahmoud Abu Watfa, Gaza's head of internal affairs authority; Bahjat Hassan Abu Sultan, head of Hamas's internal security forces; and Ahmed Omar al-Hatta, head of Gaza's justice authorities. More than 400 killed as Israel launches airstrikes across Gaza In a statement earlier on Tuesday, Hamas confirmed that al-Daalis, as well as other officials, were killed in the Israeli assault, saying al-Daalis served as the Chairman of the Government Follow-Up Committee.

In the occupied West Bank, Israeli fire killed three Palestinians, including a 58-year-old woman, in the restive city of Jenin on Tuesday, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.  The Israeli military stated that two of those killed were militants engaged in an exchange of fire with troops. A third individual, who allegedly opened fire at Israeli forces, was also killed. Additionally, 10 people were arrested, and two vehicles loaded with weapons were destroyed, the army said.  Israel launched a major military operation in Jenin following the January ceasefire with Hamas in Gaza. Since then, forces have demolished homes and infrastructure, forcing tens of thousands of Palestinians to flee northern parts of the West Bank, AP reports.  More than 1,000 people dead in clashes between Syrian govt forces and Asad loyalists The Gaza Health Ministry reported that four people were killed and 14 wounded by Israeli fire in the past 24 hours. Rescuers also recovered 32 bodies from the rubble.  Among those killed were three brothers targeted by a drone strike in central Gaza on Monday, while a woman was killed in a separate strike in Rafah on Tuesday.  The latest fatalities bring the overall Palestinian death toll to 48,503, with over 110,000 wounded, according to the ministry. It says women and children make up the majority of those killed but does not differentiate between fighters and civilians.  Israel claims to have killed over 17,000 militants but has not provided evidence. 

President Donald Trump on Wednesday issued what he called a “last warning” to Hamas to release all remaining hostages held in Gaza, directing a sharply worded message after the White House confirmed that he had recently dispatched an envoy for unprecedented direct talks with the militant group. In a statement on his Truth Social platform soon after meeting at the White House with eight former hostages, Trump added that he was “sending Israel everything it needs to finish the job.” “Release all of the Hostages now, not later, and immediately return all of the dead bodies of the people you murdered, or it is OVER for you,” Trump said. “Only sick and twisted people keep bodies, and you are sick and twisted!” The pointed language from Trump came after the White House said Wednesday that U.S. officials have engaged in “ongoing talks and discussions” with Hamas officials, stepping away from a long-held U.S. policy of not directly engaging with the militant group. Confirmation of the talks in the Qatari capital of Doha came as the Israel-Hamas ceasefire remains in the balance. It’s the first known direct engagement between the United States and Hamas since the State Department designated the group a foreign terrorist organization in 1997. US pauses intelligence sharing with Ukraine amid diplomatic spat White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt declined to provide detail on the substance of talks, but said President Donald Trump has authorized his envoys to “talk to anyone.” Egyptian and Qatari intermediaries have served as mediators with Hamas for the U.S. and Israel since the group launched its Oct. 7, 2023 attack on Israel that sparked the war. “Look, dialogue and talking to people around the world to do what’s in the best interest of the American people is something that the president ... believes is a good-faith effort to do what’s right for the American people,” she said. Leavitt added that Israel has been consulted about the direct engagement with Hamas officials, and noted that there are “American lives at stake.” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office offered a terse acknowledgement of the U.S.-Hamas talks. “Israel has expressed to the United States its position regarding direct talks with Hamas,” the prime minister’s office said. ‘If US wants war, we are ready’: China Israeli officials say about 24 living hostages — including Edan Alexander, an American citizen — as well as the bodies of at least 35 others are believed to still be held in Gaza. Adam Boehler, Trump’s nominee to be special envoy for hostage affairs, led the direct talks with Hamas. Boehler, founder and CEO of Rubicon Founders, a healthcare investment firm, was a lead negotiator on the Abraham Accords team during Trump’s first term that strove to win broader recognition of Israel in the Arab world. The talks, which took place last month, focused mainly on the release of American hostages, and a potential end of the war without Hamas in power in Gaza, according to a Hamas official who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity. The official added that no progress was made but “the step itself is promising” and more talks are expected. Egyptian and Qatari mediators helped arrange the talks. The direct engagement comes as continuation of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire remains uncertain. Trump has signaled that he has no intentions of pushing Netanyahu away from a return to combat if Hamas doesn’t agree to terms of a new ceasefire proposal, which the Israelis have billed as being drafted by U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff. The new plan would require Hamas to release half its remaining hostages — the militant group’s main bargaining chip — in exchange for a ceasefire extension and a promise to negotiate a lasting truce. Israel made no mention of releasing more Palestinian prisoners, a key component of the first phase. Appeals court allows watchdog agency head’s removal as legal battle rages over Trump firing Trump on Wednesday welcomed eight former hostages — Iair Horn, Omer Shem Tov, Eli Sharabi, Keith Siegel, Aviva Siegel, Naama Levy, Doron Steinbrecher and Noa Argamani — to the White House. “The President listened intently to their heartbreaking stories,” Leavitt said. "The hostages thanked President Trump for his steadfast efforts to bring all of the hostages home.” Keith Siegel, an Israeli-American released last month as part of the ceasefire, said they came to the White House to express their appreciation to Trump and Witkoff, the Mideast envoy. “We urged them to continue their enormous efforts. They have done so much. We trust them and we know they will get the job done to get all the rest of the 59 remaining hostages held in Gaza back to their families,” he said in a statement. The talks between U.S. and Hamas officials were first reported earlier Wednesday by the news site Axios. Leavitt, the White House press secretary, is one of three administration officials who face a lawsuit from The Associated Press on First- and Fifth-Amendment grounds. The AP says the three are punishing the news agency for editorial decisions they oppose. The White House says the AP is not following an executive order to refer to the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America.

Hamas handed over the remains of four more Israeli hostages early Thursday in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners as part of the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. They are the last four to be released during the first phase of the truce, which is set to end Saturday. Israel and Hamas have yet to negotiate the next phase, and dozens of hostages are still held in Gaza. Hamas transferred the four bodies to the Red Cross early Thursday and they were brought back to Israel for forensic testing. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum, which represents families of the captives, said the remains had been positively identified. Under the first phase of the truce, 25 Israeli hostages and the remains of eight others were handed over in exchange for almost 2,000 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. Five Thai citizens abducted while working in Israel on the day of the attack were freed last month in a separate deal. Hamas-led militants took 251 hostages during their Oct. 7, 2023, attack that launched the war in Gaza. Fifty-nine hostages remain in Gaza, roughly half of whom are believed to be dead. The others were released in previous agreements, rescued, or their bodies were recovered. Israel’s military campaign has killed over 48,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which does not say how many were fighters but says more than half were women or children. Here’s a look at the hostages released so far: Ohad Yahalomi, 49 when kidnapped Ohad Yahalomi was shot in the leg as he and his family were taken from Kibbutz Nir Oz. His wife and two daughters, one 10 and the other almost 2, escaped from a moped attempting to take them into Gaza and got away after running through fields for hours. Ohad and his oldest son, Eitan, then 12, were taken into Gaza but held separately. Eitan was released as part of a ceasefire in November 2023. UN halts food aid to famine-hit Sudan displacement camp Yahalomi, who also had French citizenship, was a dedicated runner and swimmer and loved traveling across Israel, according to the hostage forum. Itzhak Elgarat, 68 when kidnapped Elgarat was taken from Kibbutz Nir Oz and was wounded in his hand, according to his brother, who spoke with him that morning. His brother, Danny Elgarat, told Israeli media in July 2024 that they had received information from the Israeli military that Itzhak had likely been killed at some point in early 2024, though there was no confirmation of his death until Hamas said on Wednesday they would return his body. Hostages who were returned in the 2023 ceasefire said they had seen Itzhak in captivity in the early months of the war, his brother told Israeli media. Elgarat also had Danish citizenship. He loved to travel and was a passionate supporter of the Maccabi Tel Aviv soccer team. Shlomo Mantzur, 85 Mantzur was taken from Kibbutz Kissufim, while his wife of 60 years, Mazal, escaped. He was one of the founders of the kibbutz and had managed the chicken coops for many years. He had five children and 12 grandchildren. He loved working with his hands and studied jewelry-making and carpentry. Born in Iraq, he survived riots against Jews as a child and moved with his family to Israel as a young teenager, according to the Hostages and Missing Families Forum. Trump administration creates registry for immigrants who are in the US illegally Mantzur was the oldest person taken hostage. Earlier this month, the Israeli military confirmed that Mantzur was killed on Oct. 7, 2023, and his body was taken to Gaza. Tsachi Idan, 49 when kidnapped Idan was taken from Kibbutz Nahal Oz. His eldest daughter, Maayan, was killed as militants shot through the door of their saferoom. Hamas militants broadcast themselves on Facebook live holding the Idan family hostage in their home, as his two younger children pleaded with the militants to let them go. Only Tsachi was taken to Gaza. Idan worked in tech and loved playing soccer, volleyball and tennis, according to the hostages forum. Omer Wenkert, 23 Wenkert, a restaurant manager known for his love of dancing and sports, was taken captive from the Nova music festival in southern Israel. Since his abduction, his family was concerned that Wenkert — from the southern Israeli town of Gedera — wasn't getting the medication necessary to treat his colitis, an inflammation of the large intestine. They had not received a sign of life from him since November 2023, when Hamas published footage of Wenkert tied in the back of a pickup truck in his underwear. Omer Shem Tov, 22 Shem Tov, from the Israeli city of Herzliya, was abducted from the Nova music festival with his friends Maya and Itay Regev, former captives who were released in November 2023. He's a passionate musician and DJ, according to the hostage forum. On the day of the Hamas attack on Israel, Shem Tov crammed into a car full of people trying to flee, but the militants shot at them. His family later saw footage of Shem Tov held by militants and bound in the back of a truck. Tal Shoham, 40 Tal Shoham, from the northern Israeli village of Ma’ale Tzviya, was visiting his wife’s family on Kibbutz Be’eri when Hamas militants burned the house where they were hiding, forcing them outside. Hamas hands over the first 2 of 6 Israeli hostages  Shoham, who also has Austrian citizenship, was taken along with his wife, Adi Shoham; his daughter, Yahel, 3; son, Naveh, 8; mother-in-law, Shoshan Haran; his wife’s aunt, Sharon Avigdori; and her daughter, Noam, 12. Three members of their extended family were killed during the attack. The six extended family members were freed in November 2023. His wife, Adi, is a psychologist specializing in trauma. The hostage forum said Shoham volunteered with Israel’s emergency paramedic service and used to be a manager at Kibbutz Be’eri’s printing house. Eliya Cohen, 27 Cohen was at the Nova musical festival when he was taken hostage while hiding in a bomb shelter. His fiancé, Ziv Abud, avoided capture by hiding under a pile of bodies. Cohen is from Tzur Hadassah, a town north of Jerusalem. He works in marketing and real estate. Hostages who have been released in the past weeks said they were held with Cohen, and he had lost more than 20 kilograms (44 pounds) and had a bullet in his leg that did not receive medical attention. He was held in tunnels, chained for most of the time, and was unaware Abud had survived, she said earlier this month. Avera Mengistu, 38 Mengistu had been held in Gaza since entering on his own in 2014. Mengistu is from Ashkelon, a city in southern Israel. His family had no idea if he was alive for nine years, until Hamas released a video of him in January 2023. Mengistu, a member of Israel's Ethiopian minority, entered the territory by crossing a barbed wire fence into Gaza. After he crossed into the Gaza Strip, he was abducted by Hamas. The family told Israeli media he has struggled with mental health issues and he had gone missing within Israel previously. Hisham Al-Sayed, 36 Al-Sayed crossed on his own into Gaza in 2015 and had been held since. He grew up in Al-Sayed, a small Bedouin Arab village near the city of Hura in the Negev Desert. In 2022, Hamas published a video showing him lying in bed with an oxygen mask, though he was conscious. His father told Human Rights Watch that Al-Sayed had run away from home on many occasions. His family told Israeli media he was diagnosed with schizophrenia. “No other hostages should face a decade in captivity,” his family said in a statement shortly before Al-Sayed’s release. The Bibas family The bodies of Ariel and Kfir Bibas were returned Thursday and the remains of their mother, Shiri Bibas, were returned Friday. Hamas said the three were killed in an Israeli airstrike, while Israel says forensic testing showed the boys were killed in captivity in November 2023. Shiri’s husband, Yarden, was also abducted from Kibbutz Nir Oz on Oct. 7, 2023, and was released earlier this month. A video of the family’s abduction showed a terrified Shiri Bibas swaddling her two redheaded sons in a blanket as armed militants surrounded her. The footage ricocheted around the world in the hours after the attack. Ariel was 4 years old at the time and Kfir was 9 months old, making him the youngest captive taken by Hamas. Ariel Bibas loved Batman and family photos showed the four Bibases dressed as the character. Kfir, the infant with red hair and a toothless smile, became a symbol across Israel for the feelings of helplessness and anger over the hostages’ captivity. Oded Lifshitz, 84 The body of Oded Lifshitz, one of the oldest hostages held by the militants, was returned Thursday. He was taken captive from his home in Kibbutz Nir Oz, along with his wife, Yocheved Lifshitz, who was freed before the first ceasefire agreement. His family said in a statement they had “hoped and prayed so much for a different outcome.” “Now we can mourn the husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather who has been missing from us since October 7,” they said. "Our family’s healing process will begin now and will not end until the last hostage is returned.” Hamas to release 6 Israeli hostages as Israel frees 600 Palestinians Oded and Yocheved Lifshitz are among the founders of Nir Oz. Oded, a journalist, campaigned for the recognition of Palestinian rights and peace between Arabs and Jews. In retirement, he drove to the Erez border crossing on the northern edge of the Gaza Strip once a week to ferry Palestinians to medical appointments in Israel as part of a group called On the Way to Recovery. Oded took pride in his work helping the traditionally nomadic Bedouin people of the Negev Desert, his daughter told The Associated Press, describing a case that went to Israel’s High Court and resulted in the return of some of their land. Sagui Dekel Chen, 36 An Israeli-American, Chen was working outside on his pet project, bus conversions, when militants stormed his kibbutz. He instructed his wife, Avital, to hide in the safe room with their two daughters. Chen, one of the first people to raise alarm of the infiltration on the kibbutz, was taken captive. Avital was seven months pregnant at the time of the attack; she gave birth to a third daughter, Shachar Mazal, in December 2023. Chen is an avid tennis player who co-founded an arts center for young people in southern Israel, according to the hostage forum. Iair Horn, 46 Horn is an Israel-Argentinian who was taken captive along with his brother, Eitan Horn, who was staying with him at the time. Eitan Horn remains in captivity and is not included in the ceasefire’s first phase. Iair Horn managed the kibbutz pub and is a fan of the local soccer team in Beersheba, according to the hostage forum. Alexander (Sasha) Troufanov, 29 Sasha Trufanov, an Israeli-Russian, was taken hostage along with three members of his family: grandmother Irena Tati, mother Yelena (Lena) and girlfriend Sapir Cohen. His father, Vitaly Trufanov, was killed on Oct. 7, 2023. The rest of his family was freed during a weeklong ceasefire in November 2023. Sasha Troufanov works as an engineer for Amazon, according to the hostage forum. His family immigrated to Israel from the Soviet Union 25 years ago. He was held by Palestinian Islamic Jihad, another militant group in Gaza, which has released multiple videos of him in captivity, including one just hours before his release. Eli Sharabi, 52 Eli Sharabi was taken captive by the militants from Kibbutz Beeri, a communal farm that was one of the hardest hit in the Hamas attack. His British-born wife, Lianne, and their teenage daughters, Noiya and Yahel, were killed by militants while hiding in their safe room. His brother, Yossi Sharabi, who lived next door, was killed in captivity. Hamas militants are holding his body, according to the hostage forum. Eli Sharabi’s home bore marks from the attack months later. AP journalists saw bullet holes in the walls and the shattered oven and TV screens. Nearby homes were torched by militants and their roofs blasted off during fighting on Oct. 7. Ohad Ben Ami, 56 Ohad Ben Ami, a father to three, was taken captive with his wife, Raz, from Kibbutz Beeri, where he was an accountant. Raz Ben Ami was released during the weeklong ceasefire in November 2023. Trump living in Russian-made disinformation space: Ukraine's Zelenskyy The hostage forum described Ohad Ben Ami as a “passionate nature enthusiast” and the “cornerstone of his family.” Or Levy, 34 Or Levy was pulled out of a bomb shelter by militants near the Nova music festival in southern Israel. His wife, Einav Levy, was killed during the attack. Their son, Almog, now 3, has been in the care of relatives since the assault. Levy was taken captive alongside American-Israeli Hersh Goldberg-Polin as well as two other hostages — Eliya Cohen and Alon Ohel. Goldberg-Polin, whose parents staged a high-profile campaign for his release, was killed in Hamas captivity. Or Levy is from the city of Rishon Lezion, where he worked as a computer programmer for a startup. Keith Siegel, 65 Keith Siegel, from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, was abducted with his wife, Aviva Siegel, from Kibbutz Kfar Aza, a farming community heavily damaged by the attack. She was freed during the November 2023 ceasefire deal, and has campaigned across the world for the release of her husband and other hostages. Aviva Siegel said that she was held hostage with her husband during her 51 days in captivity. She said she took comfort from having her husband by her side as they were moved from tunnel to tunnel, the two given almost no food or water. Her parting words to him were, “Be strong for me.” Ofer Kalderon, 54 Ofer Kalderon, a French-Israeli hostage, was taken captive from Kibbutz Nir Oz. His teenage children, Sahar and Erez, were also abducted and freed during the weeklong ceasefire in 2023. Arbel Yehoud, 29 Arbel Yehoud was taken hostage with her boyfriend, Ariel Cunio, from Kibbutz Nir Oz. A third-generation resident of the kibbutz, she loves science and space, and her friends held a public star gazing to mark her birthday in captivity. Her brother, Dolev Yehoud, was killed on Oct. 7. Agam Berger, 20 In videos of Agam Berger’s abduction, her face is covered in blood, though it’s unclear if it is from her own wound or those of other soldiers. Berger is a violin player from a suburb of Tel Aviv who enlisted in the army just two months before the attack. Berger was released after other female soldiers taken from the Nahal Oz military base. Gadi Moses, 80 Gadi Moses was one of the oldest hostages who remained in captivity in Gaza. Pakistan plans to expel entire Afghan refugee population: Afghan Embassy He was taken from his home on Kibbutz Nir Oz, one of the communities hardest-hit in the Hamas-led attack. The hostage forum described Moses as an expert agronomist who lectured on agriculture and helped maintain the kibbutz’s vegetable garden. Moses’ partner, Efrat, was killed during the attack. Watchara Sriaoun, 33 In the Oct. 7 attack, militants overran the compound where agricultural workers lived on Kibbutz Nir Oz. Out of the 16 Thai workers living there, 11 were killed and five, including Watchara Sriaoun, were abducted. They were among at least 31 Thai workers taken in the assault. In the November 2023 ceasefire, 23 were released in a deal negotiated between Thailand and Hamas, with assistance from Qatar and Iran. Sathian Suwannakham, 35 Sathian Suwannakham was also taken from Nir Oz. The kibbutz has continued to advocate for the release of the Thai workers by posting regularly about them on social media, in addition to the Israeli hostages. Surasak Rumnao, 32 Surasak Rumnao was abducted from the town of Yesha, located near the southern Gaza Strip. His mother, Khammee Lamnao, said the Thai Embassy in Israel called her to let her know her son would be released. Pongsak Thaenna, 36 Pongsak Thaenna was also taken from the town of Yesha. Thais make up the largest group of foreigners held in Gaza. In the early days after the Oct. 7 attack, then-Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin pressed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in phone conversations to assist the Thai hostages. Bannawat Saethao, 27 Bannawat Saethao was also abducted from the town of Yesha. Liri Albag, 19 Liri Albag, who was among those abducted from the Nahal Oz military base, was featured in a video Hamas released in early January, filmed under duress. Her family said the video was “difficult to watch” because of Albag’s clear emotional distress. They were particularly active in the protest movement pushing for a deal with Hamas to bring the hostages home. Karina Ariev, 20 Karina Ariev was also taken from Nahal Oz. Just before she was abducted, she she sent a message to her family, saying: “If I don’t live, take care of mom and dad all their lives. Don’t give up, live,” according to Israeli media. Her family said she loves to cook, sing, dance and write poetry. Daniella Gilboa, 20 Also taken from Nahal Oz, Daniella Gilboa was originally named Danielle. Her parents changed it after she was taken captive, in line with a Jewish tradition that is believed to bring God’s protection. Gilboa, from Petah Tikva, a suburb of Tel Aviv, played piano and studied music in high school. She dreams of being a singer, according to Israeli media. Naama Levy, 20 The footage from Naama Levy’s abduction, in which she is wearing gray sweatpants covered in blood, was shown around the world. Levy, among those taken from Nahal Oz, is a triathlete. When she was younger, she participated in the “Hands of Peace” delegation, which brings together Americans, Israelis and Palestinians to work on coexistence. Romi Gonen, 24 Romi Gonen was taken from the Nova music festival in southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. She spoke to her family for nearly five hours as militants marauded through the festival grounds. She told them that roads clogged with abandoned cars made escape impossible and that she would seek shelter in some bushes. Her father, Eitan Goren, said she survived in part by learning Arabic, as it was the only way to communicate with her captors. “I just enjoy being with her even in silence, touching, hugging, watching her,” he said, a week after her release. “I missed it so much.” Emily Damari, 28 Emily Damari is a British-Israeli citizen abducted from her apartment on Kibbutz Kfar Aza. She lived in a small apartment in a neighborhood for young adults, the closest part of the kibbutz to Gaza. Militants broke through the border fence of the kibbutz and ransacked the neighborhood. The day after her release, Emily’s mother, Mandy, said her daughter was “in high spirits and on the road to recovery.” Doron Steinbrecher, 31 Doron Steinbrecher is a veterinary nurse who loves animals, and a neighbor to Damari in Kibbutz Kfar Aza. Steinbrecher holds both Israeli and Romanian citizenship. Steinbrecher was featured in a video released by Hamas in January 2024, along with two female Israeli soldiers. Her brother said the video gave them hope that she was alive but sparked concern because she looked tired, weak and gaunt.