Hamas, Israel and hostages
Follow NBC News' live coverage as Israel and Hamas agree to a ceasefire deal to halt the Gaza war and release hostages, while Biden and Trump react.
Hamas released four more hostages on Saturday, Jan. 25, and one of them is a friend of Lauren Robbins, a student at the University of Florida. “I’m so glad you’re okay and home,” shared UF student, Lauren Robbins.
Emily Damari was one of the 251 people that Hamas and other Palestinian militant groups abducted from Israel to the Gaza Strip during their attack on October 7. She was 27 at the time but has since turned 28.
The Palestinian Islamist group Hamas has handed over to mediators a list showing that 25 Israeli hostages are still alive, out of 33 scheduled for release, an official of the group told Reuters on Monday.
A video of Shiri Bibas and her two young children being kidnapped on October 7 made headlines around the world. Hamas says they've been killed, but many Israeli's don't believe them, and the tragic mystery will likely soon be solved.
A delegation from Palestinian group Hamas arrived in Cairo on Monday to discuss the implementation of ceasefire deal to end the war in Gaza, the group said in a statement.
Tens of thousands of Palestinians waited to return to their homes in northern Gaza, voicing frustration after Israel refused to open crossing points.
Palestinian militant group Hamas will hand over female Israeli hostage Arbel Yehud and two other hostages before Friday, mediator Qatar said on Sunday, and Israel said it would allow residents of the northern Gaza Strip to go back home early on Monday.
The hostages are the second set to be released since the multiphase agreement came into effect, raising hopes for a lasting end to the war.
The group is set to release the more than 90 hostages over the coming weeks as part of the ceasefire deal with Israel.
A disagreement between Israel and Hamas over a hostage is preventing hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians from returning to their homes in northern Gaza, putting pressure on a fragile week-old truce.