January 27, 2026, is the first day in nearly 12 years that Israel woke up with the knowledge that there are no hostages, living or dead, in Gaza.
To celebrate this day and honor those who have fallen, The Jerusalem Post has created a timeline in remembrance of the national struggle to finally bring every hostage home.
2014: Operation Protective Edge
On June 12, 2014, Hamas kidnapped and murdered Eyal Yifrach, Gilad Shaer, and Naftali Fraenkel, three hitchhiking Israeli teens, sparking a war between Israel and Hamas.
On August 1, the US and UN announced that a ceasefire had been reached between Israel and Hamas, which would have allowed the IDF to continue dismantling certain Hamas tunnels.
That morning, Lieutenant Hadar Goldin (4,117 days) was operating with his unit in Rafah. While working to dismantle a tunnel, Hamas terrorists, in breach of the US and UN-brokered ceasefire announced only hours earlier, emerged from the tunnel, shooting two soldiers and taking Hadar captive, along with the body of St.-Sgt. Oron Shaul (3,836 days).
A few weeks later, Avera Mengistu (3,821 days), an Israeli Jew of Ethiopian descent, crossed the border into the Gaza Strip on September 7, where he was held alive for over a decade.
2015: Hisham al-Sayed is kidnapped
On April 20, 2015, Hisham al-Sayed (3,597 days), from the Israeli Bedouin town of Hura, wandered into southern Gaza and was promptly abducted by Hamas. He was believed to have been struggling with severe mental health issues at the time he entered, having reportedly been diagnosed with schizophrenia, a “personality disorder,” and other conditions.
2023: The October 7 Massacre
Some 1,200 people were killed in the Hamas-led October 7 massacre. Over 250 people were kidnapped and taken into the Gaza Strip. Of those kidnapped, 84 were murdered, either during the massacre or in captivity.
On October 20, American-Israeli Judith (Yehudit) Tai Raanan and Natalie Shoshana Raanan (14 days) were returned to Israel by Hamas on “humanitarian grounds” following US pressure.
On October 23, Yocheved Lifshitz and Nurit Cooper (17 days) were released as well for the same reasons.
On October 30, observer Ori Megidish (23 days) was rescued during the IDF operation ‘Beginning of the Light’ in Gaza, the first successful rescue mission carried out by Israeli forces in nearly 20 years.
November 2023: The first hostage deal
On November 16, the remains of Yehudit Weiss (40 days) were found near a structure adjacent to the Al-Shifa Hospital, which served Hamas as a military weapons cache.
On November 17, the remains of Corporal Noa Marciano (41 days) were brought back to Israel after being found near the Al-Shifa Hospital as well.
The next week marked the first hostage deal, when 80 hostages were released, a majority of the women, children, and foreign nationals held by the terrorist organization.
On November 24, Hamas released Yaffa Adar, Danielle Aloni, Emilia Aloni, Santi Boonphrom, Wichai Kalapat, Aviv Katz-Asher, Doron Katz-Asher, Raz Katz-Asher, Hanna Katzir, Bancha Kongmanee, Natthawaree Mulkan, Margalit Moses, Adina Moshe, Keren Munder, Ohad Munder, Ruth Munder, Jimmy Pacheco, Channah Peri, Mongkhol Phajuabboon, Boonthom Phankhong, Withoon Phumee, Buddee Saengbun, Uthai Sangnuan, and Uthai Thunsri (48 days).
On November 25, Hamas released Anucha Angkaew, Noam Avigdori, Sharon Avigdori, Manee Chirachat, Khomkrit Chombua, Emily Hand, Shoshan Haran, Natthaporn Onkeaw, Alma Or, Noam Or, Maya Regev, Hila Rotem-Shoshani, Adi Shoham, Nave Shoham, Yahel Shoham, Noga Weiss, and Shiri Weiss (49 days).
On November 26, Hamas released Elma Avraham, Hagar Brodetz, Ofri Brodetz, Oriya Brodetz, Yuval Brodetz, Dafna Elyakim, Ella Elyakim, Agam Goldstein-Almog, Gal Goldstein-Almog, Tal Goldstein-Almog, Chen Goldstein-Almog, Abigail Idan, Surin Kesungnoen, Roni Krivoi, Pornsawan Pinakalo, Aviva Siegel, and Wichian Temthon (50 days).
On November 27, Hamas released Emma Cunio, Yuli Cunio, Sharon Aloni Cunio, Mika Engel, Yuval Engel, Karina Engelbert, Erez Kalderon, Sahar Kalderon, Or Yaakov, Yagil Yaakov, and Eitan Yahalomi (51 days).
On November 28, Hamas released Noralyn Babadilla, Ditza Heiman, Rimon Kirsht-Buchshtab, Gabriela Leimberg, Mia Leimberg, Clara Marman, Tamar Metzger, Ofelia Roitman, Ada Sagi, Owat Suriyasri, Meirav Tal, and Pattanayut Tonsakree (52 days).
On November 29, Hamas released Liat Atzili, Raz Ben Ami, Ofir Engel, Liam Or, Phaiboon Ratnin, Itay Regev, Yarden Roman-Gat, Raya Rotem, Gong Sae Lao, Charoemchai Saengkaew, Lakkapan Seekena, Amit Shani, Gali Tarshansky, Irena Tatti, Yelena Trufanov, and Moran Stella Yanai (53 days).
On November 30, Hamas released Aisha Ziyadne, Bilal Ziyadne, Sapir Cohen, Shani Goren, Ilana Gritzewsky, Nili Margalit, Mia Schem, and Amit Soussana (54 days).
December 2023: Collapse of first ceasefire
On December 1, the already fragile ceasefire collapsed when Hamas launched a barrage of rockets toward Israel and refused to reveal the status of the remaining hostages.
Additionally, on December 1, the IDF recovered the remains of Ofir Tzarfati (55 days).
On December 11, Israel recovered the remains of Ziv Dado and Eden Zecharya (65 days).
On December 14, the remains of Nik Beizer, Ron Sherman, and Elia Toledano (68 days) were recovered.
On December 15, IDF troops accidentally killed hostages Yotam Haim, Alon Shamriz, and Samer Talalka (69 days), who were taken by Hamas on October 7, after mistaking them for terrorists during operational activity in the Gaza City neighborhood of Shejaia.
February 2024: Operation Golden Hand
On February 12, 2024, Fernando Marman and Luis Har (128 days) were rescued during the IDF operation Golden Hand, in cooperation with the Shin Bet and Israel Police in Rafah.
April 2024
On April 5, 2024, the remains of Elad Katzir (181 days) were recovered.
May 2024
On May 17, 2024, the remains of Ron Binyamin, Amit Buskila, Itzhak Gelerenter, and Shani Louk (223 days) were recovered by the IDF.
On May 23, 2024, the remains of Orión Hernández Radoux, Michel Nisenbaum, and Hanan Yablonka (229 days) were recovered.
June 2024: Operation Arnon
On June 8, 2024, Noa Argamani, Andrey Kozlov, Almog Meir Jan, and Shlomi Ziv (245 days) were rescued from Gaza in Operation Arnon, named for the commando chief inspector of the Yamam counterterrorism unit who lost his life during the operation.
July 2024
On July 25, the remains of Tomer Ahimas, Kiril Brodski, Oren Goldin, Maya Goren, and Ravid Katz (292 days) were recovered by the IDF.
August 2024: Murder of the six hostages
On August 20, the remains of Yagev Buchshtab, Alex Dancyg, Nadav Popplewell, Yoram Metzger, Avraham Munder, and Chaim Peri (318 days) were returned to Israel by the IDF.
On August 27, the IDF and the Shin Bet rescued Israeli-Bedouin hostage Kaid Farhan al-Alkadi (325 days) from a tunnel in Rafah.
On August 28, the remains of Shaked Dahan (326 days) were returned to Israel by the IDF.
On August 31, the IDF recovered the remains of Ori Danino, Carmel Gat, Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Alexander Lobanov, Almog Sarusi, and Eden Yerushalmi (329 days), who were slaughtered by Hamas shortly before Israeli forces could rescue them.
The IDF retrieved the bodies of the hostages from a tunnel under the city of Rafah in Gaza.
December 2024
On December 4, the remains of Itai Svirsky (424 days) were recovered in a joint operation between the IDF and Shin Bet.
January 2025: Return of IDF observers
On January 7, the remains of Youssef Ziyadne (458 days) were returned to Israel by the IDF.
On January 10, the remains of Hamza Ziyadne (461 days) were returned to Israel by the IDF.
On January 19, 2025, Israel and Hamas reached a second ceasefire agreement with the assistance of Qatari mediation, and US President Donald Trump’s return to the White House added pressure to reach a deal.
During this ceasefire, the IDF observers who were kidnapped from their base on Nir Oz on October 7, 2023, were released.
Also on January 19, the remains of St.-Sgt. Oron Shaul (3,836 days) were recovered in a joint operation between the IDF and Shin Bet.
Additionally, Emily Damari, Romi Gonen, and Doron Steinbrecher (470 days) were released. This was the first time Hamas held one of its ‘release ceremonies,’ a move the international community condemned as attempting to humiliate the hostages.
On January 25, IDF observers Liri Albag, Karina Ariev, Daniella Gilboa, and Naama Levy (476 days) were released.
The final observer held alive by Hamas, Agam Berger (481 days), was kept for an additional five days and was released on January 30 along with Arbel Yehud, Gadi Moses, Surasak Rumnao, Bannawat Saethao, Watchara Sriaoun, Sathian Suwannakham, and Pongsak Tanna (481 days).
In many cases, such as family members or friends who were taken together, Hamas would release them on separate days to draw out the feeling of closure.
February 2025: Return of the Bibas family
On February 1, Yarden Bibas, Ofer Calderon, and Keith Siegel (483 days) were released.
On February 8, Ohad Ben Ami, Or Levy, and Eli Sharabi (490 days) were released.
On February 15, Sagui Dekel-Chen, Iair Horn, and Alexander Trufanov (497 days) were released.
On February 20, the remains of Oded Lifshitz, Ariel Bibas, and Kfir Bibas (502 days) were returned to Israel, along with the remains of a woman Hamas claimed was Shiri Bibas, but was an unknown Gazan woman.
The remains of Shiri Bibas (504 days) were returned two days later, along with the remains of Hisham al-Sayed (3,597 days).
In addition, on February 22, Hamas also released Eliya Cohen, Omer Shem Tov, Tal Shoham, and Omer Wenkert (504 days), along with Avera Mengistu (3,821 days).
On February 26, the remains of Itzik Elgarat, Tsachi Idan, Shlomo Mansour, and Ohad Yahalomi (508 days) were returned to Israel.
May 2025: US brokers release of Edan Alexander
On May 12, the United States secured the release of Israeli-American Edan Alexander (583 days).
Israel stated that Alexander’s release was made possible due to the support of the United States and to the IDF's military pressure levied in the Gaza Strip.
June 2025
On June 5, the remains of Gad Haggai and Judy Weinstein-Haggai (607 days) were returned to Israel.
On June 7, the remains of Nattapong Pinta (609 days) were returned to Israel.
On June 11, the remains of Aviv Atzili and Yair Yaakov (613 days) were returned to Israel.
On June 22, the remains of Ofra Keidar, Shay Levinson, and Yonatan Samerano (624 days) were returned to Israel.
August 2025
On August 29, the remains of Idan Shtivi and Ilan Weiss (692 days) were returned to Israel.
October 2025: Trump’s Gaza deal
On October 13, Trump arrives in Israel to facilitate the first stage of his plan to reach peace between Israel and Gaza.
Over the day, Hamas released Matan Angrest, Gali Berman, Ziv Berman, Elkana Bohbot, Rom Braslavski, Nimrod Cohen, Ariel Cunio, David Cunio, Evyatar David, Guy Gilboa-Dalal, Maxim Herkin, Eitan Horn, Segev Kalfon, Bar Kupershtein, Omri Miran, Eitan Mor, Yosef Ohana, Alon Ohel, Avinatan Or, and Matan Zangauker (737 days).
Additionally, Hamas returned the remains of Guy Iluz, Bipin Joshi, Daniel Perez, and Yossi Sharabi (737 days).
On October 14, the remains of Tamir Nimrodi, Uriel Baruch, and Eitan Levy (738 days) were returned to Israel.
On October 15, the remains of Muhammad El-Atrash and Inbar Haiman (739 days) were returned to Israel. Haiman was the last woman to be released from Gaza.
On October 17, the remains of Eliyahu Margalit (740 days) were returned to Israel.
On October 18, the remains of Ronen Engel and Sonthaya Oakkharasr (741 days) were returned to Israel.
On October 20, the remains of Tal Haimi (743 days) were returned to Israel.
On October 21, the remains of Tamir Adar and Arye Zalmanovich (744 days) were returned to Israel.
On October 30, the remains of Sahar Baruch and Amiram Cooper (754 days) were returned to Israel.
November 2025
On November 2, the remains of Oz Daniel, Asaf Hamami, and Omer Neutra (757 days) were returned to Israel.
On November 4, the remains of Itay Chen (759 days) were returned to Israel.
On November 5, the remains of Joshua Luito Mollel (760 days) were returned to Israel.
On November 7, the remains of Lior Rudaeff (762 days) were returned to Israel.
On November 9, the remains of Lieutenant Hadar Goldin (4,117 days), the longest held hostage in Gaza, were returned to Israel.
On November 13, the remains of Meni Godard (768 days) were returned to Israel.
On November 25, the remains of Dror Or (780 days) were returned to Israel.
December 2025
On December 3, the remains of Sudthisak Rinthalak (788 days) were returned to Israel.
January 2026: The final Gaza hostage returns home
On January 26, 2026, Israeli forces found the remains of St.-Sgt.-Maj. Ran Gvili (842 days).
With Gvili’s return, the country breathed a collective sigh of relief, knowing the families that suffered could all lay their loved ones to rest, and the nation could truly begin healing.
However, even with the celebrations erupting around Israel at the true end of October 7, it is important to remember that even though there are no hostages left in Gaza, there are still three people whose families deserve closure.
June 1982: Yehuda Katz goes missing in Lebanon
On June 12, 1982, IDF soldier Yehuda Katz (15,935 days) was declared missing following the Battle of Sultan Yacoub in Lebanon.
In addition to Katz, two other soldiers, Zachary Baumel (13,445 days) and Zvi Feldman (15,674 days), were declared missing but were found in 2019 and 2025, respectively.
October 1986: Ron Arad is taken captive in Lebanon
On October 16, 1986, Israeli Air Force Navigator Ron Arad (14,348 days) was taken captive in Lebanon after a bombing mission over southern Lebanon.
Arad was listed as missing in action by the IDF for 31 years, until reports by IDF intelligence and the Mossad stated he likely died in captivity.
August 1997: Guy Hever disappears in Golan Heights
On August 17, 1997, Guy Hever (10,390 days) left the Zivan base in the Golan Heights and has not been seen or heard from since.
His disappearance led to the launch of a large-scale search operation by security forces and volunteers, but no one has been able to explain the circumstances of his disappearance.
Over the years, various reports have been published, including claims that Hever is being held in a prison in Syria, but these have never been verified.
Hever's disappearance is considered one of the greatest mysteries in the history of the Israeli security system, and the investigation is reopened from time to time, but his fate remains unknown.