Israel and Hamas 'locked in last-minute negotiations' over hostages

Twenty living Israeli hostages are due for release from captivity in Gaza under a ceasefire deal with Hamas.

Militants kidnapped them during Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, the deadliest in the country’s history.

Hostages thought to be alive: 

Avinatan Or, 32

Dual British-Israeli national Avinatan Or hails from a religious Jewish family of seven children from the Shilo settlement in the occupied West Bank.

His partner Noa Argamani was abducted with him at Supernova, though she was freed in an Israeli military operation in June 2024.

He was planning to move in with her in Beersheva, where he studied engineering.

Israel and Hamas Engaged in Urgent Hostage Negotiations

 

Gali and Ziv Berman, 28

The Berman twins were taken from the youth section of the Kfar Aza kibbutz along with their British-Israeli neighbor, Emily Damari, who has since been set free. The three of them are captured in a photo together at a festival.

The brothers, who were inseparable, collaborated in music production. They are fans of the Maccabi Tel Aviv and Liverpool football teams. Their parents and their older sibling made it through the attack.

Israel and Hamas Engaged in Urgent Hostage Negotiations

Matan Zangauker, 25

Matan Zangauker was kidnapped from his home in Nir Oz kibbutz with his Israeli-Mexican girlfriend Ilana Gritzewsky.

She was released in November 2023, during the first truce in the two-year war.

Along with Einav Zangauker, Matan’s mother, Gritzewsky became a key figure in the campaign for the hostages.

Israel and Hamas Engaged in Urgent Hostage Negotiations

 

Ariel Cunio, 28 

Ariel Cunio was abducted in the attack on October 7. 

His partner, Arbel Yehud, gained her freedom in January 2025 in an agreement where Hamas released 25 live hostages and eight deceased ones amid a brief ceasefire.

David Cunio, 35, 

Ariel’s sibling, David, was also taken from Nir Oz. David’s wife, Sharon Aloni Cunio, and their three-year-old twin daughters, Ema and Yuly, were among the 105 hostages freed during a temporary ceasefire in November 2023.

Matan Angrest, 22

Matan Angrest, a 22-year-old IDF soldier, was in a tank that was targeted near the Gaza perimeter fence on October 7.

This year, his family said they had been informed by released hostages that he was suffering chronic asthma, infections and untreated burns. 

Nimrod Cohen, 21

Nimrod Cohen was working as an IDF soldier when his tank was targeted by Hamas at Nahal Oz. 

Nimrod Cohen, an Israeli hostage who was kidnapped in the October 7, 2023 attack by Hamas

Nimrod Cohen, an Israeli hostage who was kidnapped in the October 7, 2023 attack by Hamas

Omri Miran, 48

Omri Miran was taken from his home in Nahal Oz. His wife, Lishay, claimed she last saw her husband being driven away in his own car. 

Guy Gilboa-Dalal, 24 

Guye Gilboa-Dalal had attended the festival with his brother, Gal, before his abduction. 

Alon Ohel, 24 

Hamas footage showed Alon Ohel being taken away as a hostage from the Nova festival in October 2023. 

Yosef-Chaim Ohana, 25

Yosef-Chaim was present at the festival with a companion who mentioned that they lingered at the location to assist people in escaping the shooting before making their own escape.

Elkana Bohbot, 36 

Elkana was working at the Nova festival when he was abducted. 

Eitan Mor, 25

Eitan Mor was a security guard at the festival. His father said his son saved dozens of people before being taken away by Hamas gunmen.

Eitan Mor was a security guard at the festival, who reportedly saved dozens of people before his abduction

Eitan Mor was a security guard at the festival, who reportedly saved dozens of people before his abduction 

Maxim Herkin, 37

Maxim attended the festival, and his two friends were among the 378 people killed in the attack. 

Bar Kupershtein, 23

Bar was part of the festival staff and chose to stay during the attack to provide aid to those in distress. He was later seen in a video featuring hostages.

Segev Kalfon, 27

Segev was fleeing the festival with his friend when he was abducted by Hamas gunmen.

Evyatar David, 24 

In August 2025, Hamas posted a clip of a weak Evyatar in a tunnel. The footage caused outrage in Israel and deep fear among the victim’s family. 

Rom Braslabski, 21

Rom was a security member at the festival. He was reportedly trying to help an injured person in the attack when he was caught up in the chaos. 

Eitan Horn, 38 

Eitan was kidnapped with his brother Yair from Nir Oz. Yair was freed in February 2025 during a ceasefire. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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