Latest Prisoners of war News

Who are the Israelis released on the first day of the ceasefire?

Jan. 19, 2025 23:32 PM EST

JERUSALEM (AP) — Three hostages held by Hamas were released Sunday after 471 days in captivity as part of a ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinian militant group. A gradual release of dozens of captives over the next several weeks has been agreed on. The truce and release of...

Middle East latest: Israel releases 90 Palestinian prisoners after Hamas frees 3 Israeli hostages

Jan. 19, 2025 21:35 PM EST

Israel has freed 90 Palestinian prisoners and detainees. The release came early Monday, more than seven hours after three Israeli hostages released from Hamas captivity in Gaza returned to Israel. A large bus carrying dozens of Palestinian detainees exited the gates of Israel’s...

Israel starts releasing 90 Palestinian prisoners, all women or minors, as part of the Gaza ceasefire deal with Hamas

Jan. 19, 2025 18:40 PM EST
RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) — Israel starts releasing 90 Palestinian prisoners, all women or minors, as part of the Gaza ceasefire deal with Hamas.

Israel's Cabinet approves a deal for a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of dozens of hostages

Jan. 17, 2025 21:21 PM EST

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel’s Cabinet approved a deal early Saturday for a ceasefire in Gaza that would release dozens of hostages held there and pause the 15-month war with Hamas, bringing the sides a step closer to ending their deadliest and most destructive fighting ever. The...

Netanyahu says deal to release hostages held in Gaza has been reached after last minute snags

Jan. 16, 2025 22:43 PM EST

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Friday a deal to return hostages held in the Gaza Strip has been reached, after his office said earlier there were last minute snags in finalizing a ceasefire that would pause 15 months of war. Netanyahu said he would...

Australia's prime minister demands Russia explain what happened to Australian POW

Jan. 14, 2025 22:59 PM EST

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Wednesday his government will take the “strongest action possible” if Russia has harmed an Australian who was taken prisoner while fighting for Ukraine. Video posted on social media in December...

A look at the terms — and tensions — in the Israel-Hamas draft ceasefire deal

Jan. 14, 2025 21:23 PM EST

CAIRO (AP) — If the Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal goes according to the current draft, then fighting will stop in Gaza for 42 days, and dozens of Israeli hostages and hundreds of Palestinian prisoners will be freed. In this first phase Israeli troops will pull back to the edges of Gaza, and many...

Seoul's spy agency says North Korean soldiers captured in Ukraine haven't shown desire to defect

Jan. 13, 2025 05:39 AM EST

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea’s spy agency told lawmakers on Monday that two North Korean soldiers who were captured by Ukrainian forces while fighting alongside Russian forces in Russia’s Kursk border region haven’t expressed a desire to seek asylum in South Korea. ...

US transfers 11 Guantanamo detainees to Oman after more than two decades without charge

Jan. 07, 2025 07:41 AM EST

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon said Monday it had transferred 11 Yemeni men to Oman this week after holding them for more than two decades without charge at the U.S. naval base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The transfer was the latest and biggest push by the Biden administration in its...

Hurdles remain as Israel and Hamas once again inch toward a ceasefire deal

Jan. 06, 2025 17:46 PM EST

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel and Hamas once again appear to be inching toward a ceasefire that could wind down the 15-month war in Gaza and bring home dozens of Israelis held hostage there. Both Israel and Hamas are under pressure from outgoing U.S. President Joe Biden and...