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Gone quiet · last update Oct 5, 2025 / Israel

The Israel-Hamas war: the hostages and the ceasefire talks, 2023-2025

Overview · reviewed October 24, 2026

The hostages taken in Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack became central to ceasefire negotiations and a sustained campaign by their families. Truces in November 2023 and January 2025 brought hostage releases in exchange for Palestinians held by Israel. Other captives were rescued, killed by Israeli forces or found dead in Gaza. This account follows those efforts through Israel's September 2025 strike targeting Hamas leaders in Doha.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8]

Read the timeline

Follow this story to see new developments when you return.

Coverage over time

Share of tracked outlets · monthly average of weekly shares (UTC)

Oct 2023: average weekly share 19% (left 5%, center 9%, right 4%), from 5 of 5 weeksNov 2023: average weekly share 29% (left 9%, center 13%, right 7%), from 4 of 4 weeksDec 2023: average weekly share 19% (left 6%, center 9%, right 4%), from 4 of 4 weeksJan 2024: average weekly share 14% (left 5%, center 7%, right 3%), from 5 of 5 weeksFeb 2024: average weekly share 22% (left 7%, center 10%, right 5%), from 4 of 4 weeksMar 2024: average weekly share 12% (left 3%, center 6%, right 2%), from 4 of 4 weeksApr 2024: average weekly share 15% (left 5%, center 7%, right 3%), from 5 of 5 weeksMay 2024: average weekly share 22% (left 6%, center 11%, right 5%), from 4 of 4 weeksJun 2024: average weekly share 22% (left 7%, center 10%, right 6%), from 4 of 4 weeksJul 2024: average weekly share 10% (left 3%, center 5%, right 2%), from 5 of 5 weeksAug 2024: average weekly share 26% (left 7%, center 14%, right 5%), from 4 of 4 weeksSep 2024: average weekly share 7% (left 2%, center 4%, right 1%), from 5 of 5 weeksOct 2024: average weekly share 6% (left 2%, center 3%, right 1%), from 4 of 4 weeksNov 2024: average weekly share 6% (left 2%, center 3%, right 1%), from 4 of 4 weeksDec 2024: average weekly share 7% (left 1%, center 4%, right 2%), from 5 of 5 weeksJan 2025: average weekly share 32% (left 10%, center 16%, right 7%), from 4 of 4 weeksFeb 2025: average weekly share 27% (left 8%, center 14%, right 6%), from 4 of 4 weeksMar 2025: average weekly share 12% (left 3%, center 7%, right 3%), from 5 of 5 weeksApr 2025: average weekly share 1% (left under 1%, center 1%, right under 1%), from 4 of 4 weeksMay 2025: average weekly share 16% (left 4%, center 9%, right 4%), from 4 of 4 weeksJun 2025: average weekly share 11% (left 2%, center 7%, right 2%), from 5 of 5 weeksJul 2025: average weekly share 7% (left 2%, center 4%, right 1%), from 4 of 4 weeksAug 2025: average weekly share 8% (left 2%, center 5%, right 1%), from 4 of 4 weeksSep 2025: average weekly share 8% (left 2%, center 4%, right 1%), from 5 of 5 weeksOct 2025: average weekly share 2% (left 1%, center 1%, right under 1%), from 4 of 4 weeksNov 2025: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksDec 2025: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksJan 2026: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksFeb 2026: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksMar 2026: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksApr 2026: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksMay 2026: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksJun 2026: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksJul 2026: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksAug 2026: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksSep 2026: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksOct 2026: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksNov 2026: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 2 of 2 weeks, so far

LeftCenterRight

Each bar is the share of the outlets on our Left / Center / Right rating scale that we tracked publishing that week which carried reporting on this story, split by the outlets' ratings. Over more than two years each bar is a month: the average of that month's weekly shares, so the shape stays readable. The weekly table below keeps every week. We track more outlets now than in the archive, so a share keeps earlier and later weeks comparable. An outlet counts once a week however much it published, and outlets in one ownership or syndication group count as one on each side they appear on. A rating describes the outlet, not the report. A gap means no such reports were collected that week, not that nothing was reported anywhere. Weeks run Monday to Sunday in UTC, so a report published on a Sunday evening in US Eastern time counts in the next week. 13 more outlets off the scale (not rated, or outside the left-right graphs) also reported; they are not in this chart. See them.

Weekly counts, outlets and reports (89 weeks with coverage)
Outlets on the rating scale that carried this story each week, of the outlets tracked that week, newest first
Week of (UTC)LeftCenterRightOf trackedShareReceipts
Oct 6, 2025610117 of 1819%
Sep 15, 20253508 of 1914%
Sep 8, 202518291562 of 21429%
Sep 1, 20251809 of 1775%
Aug 25, 202538314 of 1997%
Aug 18, 2025718328 of 19115%
Aug 11, 20254509 of 1815%
Aug 4, 20251809 of 1945%
Jul 21, 202555515 of 1908%
Jul 7, 2025822535 of 19118%
Jun 30, 20251227948 of 21722%
Jun 16, 202538112 of 11810%
Jun 9, 20250325 of 1993%
Jun 2, 20258231041 of 18922%
May 26, 2025824638 of 19120%
May 12, 202515281558 of 20229%
May 5, 2025819734 of 20117%
Apr 14, 202528111 of 2015%
Mar 24, 202527312 of 1946%
Mar 17, 2025611320 of 19510%
Mar 10, 20257241041 of 19821%
Mar 3, 202513261251 of 20225%
Feb 24, 20251121638 of 19719%
Feb 17, 202517311563 of 19432%
Feb 10, 202519311666 of 21431%
Feb 3, 20251325947 of 19025%
Jan 27, 202517271357 of 22326%
Jan 20, 202523371171 of 22631%
Jan 13, 2025425327122 of 22854%
Jan 6, 202510231043 of 22119%
Dec 30, 2024513624 of 19512%
Dec 16, 20241539 of 2264%
Dec 9, 20242518 of 2084%
Dec 2, 20244151231 of 22814%
Nov 25, 20240011 of 1781%
Nov 18, 2024813627 of 22512%
Nov 4, 2024815629 of 22313%
Oct 28, 20241517 of 1964%
Oct 21, 20241015429 of 19915%
Oct 14, 20243216 of 1953%
Oct 7, 20240213 of 2051%
Sep 30, 20240101 of 222under 1%
Sep 9, 20243508 of 2303%
Sep 2, 202417321261 of 21229%
Aug 26, 202417371973 of 20436%
Aug 19, 202419361368 of 20933%
Aug 12, 20241828652 of 21724%
Aug 5, 2024813627 of 20213%
Jul 22, 20243238 of 2343%
Jul 15, 2024911525 of 22011%
Jul 8, 20241112629 of 18416%
Jul 1, 202411221043 of 21320%
Jun 24, 20241212832 of 25013%
Jun 17, 202453210 of 2225%
Jun 10, 202421371876 of 24731%
Jun 3, 202425402691 of 22840%
May 27, 202417311361 of 24725%
May 20, 2024914831 of 22614%
May 13, 20248201038 of 21618%
May 6, 202424391679 of 23633%
Apr 29, 202417331464 of 23727%
Apr 22, 20241826852 of 22323%
Apr 8, 202442612 of 2645%
Apr 1, 202416261557 of 26422%
Mar 25, 20241022739 of 24516%
Mar 18, 202417311 of 2464%
Mar 11, 20241017734 of 24314%
Mar 4, 2024818430 of 25412%
Feb 26, 202422351774 of 25629%
Feb 19, 202462412 of 2325%
Feb 12, 202420301565 of 24227%
Feb 5, 202421301465 of 24227%
Jan 29, 2024814527 of 23511%
Jan 22, 202416211249 of 23821%
Jan 15, 20242127957 of 22326%
Jan 8, 2024816630 of 24312%
Dec 25, 20231623847 of 20723%
Dec 18, 202314171041 of 23617%
Dec 11, 202320361672 of 22532%
Dec 4, 20230066 of 2173%
Nov 27, 202330472097 of 23541%
Nov 20, 2023395322114 of 20157%
Nov 13, 20238121333 of 21515%
Nov 6, 20231326 of 2373%
Oct 30, 2023718934 of 23315%
Oct 23, 202316321462 of 23826%
Oct 16, 202322381979 of 24832%
Oct 9, 202313221247 of 23720%
Oct 2, 20232002 of 2431%

Latest coverage

The newest reporting in this story's record.

  1. Oct 4, 2025 · first reported · Headline from WMUR

    Israel marks 2 years since Hamas attack amid Gaza conflict

Background

Hamas released Americans Judith Raanan and her teenage daughter Natalie in October 2023 after taking them hostage during its attack on Israel.[9] A four-day truce in November opened the way for broader exchanges of hostages held in Gaza for Palestinians imprisoned by Israel.[1] Qatar subsequently announced an extension, allowing further releases.[10]

Read the full background (5 more paragraphs)

Israeli military operations also determined captives' fate. In December 2023, Israeli troops mistakenly killed three hostages who were waving a white flag; a military official said soldiers had violated the rules of engagement.[7] In February 2024, Israeli forces rescued two Israeli-Argentinian hostages in Rafah in a raid reported to have killed at least 67 Palestinians.[3] In June, a raid in the Nuseirat refugee camp freed four hostages, including Noa Argamani, amid an assault that Gaza officials said left hundreds of Palestinians dead or wounded.[4]

Pressure for an agreement grew inside Israel. In spring 2024, families of hostages joined mass protests calling for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to step down and for a ceasefire.[8] Later that year, Israeli forces recovered six hostages' bodies in Gaza, including that of Israeli-American Hersh Goldberg-Polin, President Joe Biden said.[5] A general strike demanding a deal disrupted businesses and the main international airport, though participation varied across the country.[11]

Negotiations repeatedly foundered over terms. In May 2024, Hamas said it accepted an Egyptian-Qatari proposal, but Israel said the terms did not meet its demands and continued strikes in Rafah.[12] Biden then outlined a three-phase proposal he said Israel had offered, intended to bring a lasting ceasefire and the release of all hostages.[13]

Israel and Hamas reached another ceasefire agreement in January 2025, providing for a temporary pause and exchanges of hostages for Palestinian prisoners.[2] Hamas released Romi Gonen, Emily Damari and Doron Steinbrecher, and Israel released 90 Palestinian prisoners.[14] In March, Trump threatened Hamas, which said it would release the remaining hostages only for a lasting truce.[15] In May, Hamas freed Israeli-American soldier Edan Alexander, the last known living American hostage in Gaza, describing his release as a goodwill gesture toward the Trump administration.[16]

In September 2025, Israel said it had struck Hamas leaders in Doha, Qatar.[6] The later Trump peace plan and the releases under it are covered in a separate arc.

Supporting stories (16)
  1. Israel and Hamas begin cease-fire, setting stage for release of some hostages and more aid to Gaza
  2. Israel and Hamas reach deal on Gaza ceasefire and hostage release
  3. Israeli forces rescue 2 hostages in dramatic Gaza raid that killed at least 67 Palestinians
  4. Israel rescues 4 hostages kidnapped in a Hamas attack on Oct. 7. At least 55 dead in Gaza strikes
  5. Israeli-American Hersh Goldberg-Polin among 6 hostages found dead in Gaza
  6. Israeli strike in Qatar targets Hamas leaders as they weigh Gaza ceasefire proposal
  7. IDF mistakenly killed 3 Israeli hostages in Gaza. This is what we know so far.
  8. Israelis stage largest protest since war began to increase pressure on Netanyahu
  9. Israel says two Americans held hostage by Hamas, a mother and daughter, have been released
  10. Truce in Gaza extended at last minute as talks over remaining Hamas captives get tougher - Boston News, Weather, Sports
  11. General strike in Israel over hostages found dead in Gaza reflects political divisions
  12. Hamas accepts Gaza cease-fire; Israel says it will continue talks but presses on with Rafah attacks
  13. Biden details a 3-phase hostage deal aimed at winding down Israel-Hamas war
  14. Hamas frees hostages, Israel releases Palestinian prisoners on Day One of ceasefire
  15. Trump Demands Hamas Release Hostages Immediately, or Face Consequences
  16. Who is Edan Alexander, the Israeli-American hostage released by Hamas?

The full record

Each date is when an update was first reported.

All 311 recorded updates

October 2025

  1. A divided Israel marks 2 years since Oct. 7 attack as war in Gaza grinds on and hostages languishHeadline from WTOP Washington DC · 18 outlets

September 2025

  1. Netanyahu ‘killed any hope’ of Gaza hostages release with strike on Doha, Qatar PM saysHeadline from The Columbian · 15 outlets
  2. Israeli strike in Qatar targets Hamas leaders as they weigh Gaza ceasefire proposalHeadline from WFMZ Allentown · 33 outlets
  3. Strike on Qatar shows limits of Israel’s elusive quest to vanquish HamasHeadline from Seattle Times · 41 outlets
  4. Qatar denounces Israel ahead of summit over Israeli strike on Doha targeting Hamas leadersHeadline from PBS NewsHour · 22 outlets
  5. ‘We are in critical minutes’: Gaza City assault spurs widespread Israeli protests amid fear for hostagesHeadline from KESQ Palm Springs · 8 outlets
  6. Trump: Some of 20 hostages held in Gaza may have 'recently died'Headline from UPI · 9 outlets

August 2025

  1. Israel identifies body of hostage retrieved from GazaHeadline from NBC News · 15 outlets
  2. Netanyahu orders ‘immediate negotiations’ to release hostages as Israel advances Gaza City operationHeadline from KVIA El Paso · 8 outlets
  3. Hamas accepts new Gaza truce plan: Hamas officialHeadline from Al-Monitor · 24 outlets
  4. Israeli protesters demand end to war in Gaza and deal to release remaining hostagesHeadline from NPR · 17 outlets
  5. Netanyahu asks Red Cross to help hostages in Gaza, as families warn against an ‘expanding war’Headline from KESQ Palm Springs · 9 outlets

July 2025

  1. US cuts short Gaza ceasefire talks and accuses Hamas of lacking ‘good faith’Headline from The Columbian · 11 outlets
  2. Trump says Hamas 'didn't want' Gaza deal as talks break downHeadline from Al-Monitor · 8 outlets
  3. Gaza civil defence says Israeli strikes kill over 40 as truce talks deadlockedHeadline from Al-Monitor · 20 outlets
  4. Israel sending team to Gaza ceasefire talks in Qatar a day before Trump and Netanyahu meetHeadline from PBS NewsHour · 12 outlets
  5. Trump meets Netanyahu for a second time amid cautious hope for a Gaza ceasefireHeadline from CBS News · 32 outlets
  6. Hamas submits ‘positive response’ to ceasefire proposal in major step toward a dealHeadline from CNN · 25 outlets

June 2025

  1. Trump expects Hamas response to ceasefire in hours as new details emerge on proposalHeadline from KVIA El Paso · 36 outlets
  2. Bodies of three hostages - an IDF soldier and two civilians - recovered from GazaHeadline from Local News 8 · 13 outlets
  3. Israel recovers bodies of two more hostages as Hamas attacks Gaza aid groupHeadline from Just the News · 5 outlets
  4. Israel retrieves body of Thai hostage as 95 more people reported killed in Gaza offensiveHeadline from ABC 13 Houston · 23 outlets
  5. Israel says it has recovered the bodies of 2 Israeli-American hostages from the Gaza StripHeadline from Las Vegas Review-Journal · 34 outlets
  6. US vetoes UN Security Council resolution demanding Gaza ceasefireHeadline from CNN · 20 outlets

May 2025

  1. Hamas submits response to US-led Gaza ceasefire proposalHeadline from The Guardian · 10 outlets

Coverage & sources

Read the reports, see how much was collected over time, or compare outlets by political leaning.

Coverage & sources →