Prisoner swap

Russia, Ukraine confirm exchange of 160 prisoners of war

Official Russian and Ukrainian sources have confirmed an exchange of 160 prisoners of war each on Friday. 

 UKRAINE-RUSSIA-CONFLICT-WAR-POW Released Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs) react upon arrival by bus following a prisoner exchange at an undisclosed location, in the Chernihiv region on May 15, 2026, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
 Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs) are seen next to buses after a swap, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in an undisclosed location, Ukraine April 19, 2025.

Russia says US hasn't followed through on Trump-Putin 'understandings' as war grinds on

Hans Grundberg, UN Special Envoy for Yemen, poses for a photo as members of the Supervisory Committee on the Detainees Release Agreement attend the closing ceremony of a meeting between the Yemeni government and the Houthi group, in Amman, Jordan, May 14, 2026.

Yemen government, Houthis to release more than 1,600 prisoners in conflict's largest swap

Freed Palestinian prisoners released by Israel as part of a hostages-prisoners swap and a ceasefire deal between Hamas and Israel, gesture, in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, October 13, 2025.

Hamas terrorist freed in hostage deal hosted in Canada, US orgs' webinar


Hamas refuses link between prisoner swap, Gaza ceasefire, reconstruction

Hamas is holding two Israeli civilians, Avera Mengistu and Hisham al-Sayed, who entered the Gaza Strip on their own, and the bodies of IDF soldiers Hadar Goldin and Oron Shaul, killed in 2014.

Israelis Hadar Goldin, Oron Shaul, Avera Mengistu and Hisham Al-Sayed being held by Hamas in Gaza

Washington denies Iran state media report saying prisoner swap agreed

"Reports that a prisoner swap deal has been reached are not true," State Department spokesman Ned Price told Reuters

A boy playing the role of a prisoner has his hands tied during a rally marking Palestinian Prisoners' Day April 17, 2019.

Hamas willing to accept less prisoner releases in exchange deal - report

Israeli officials do not have high expectations from the talks.

Israelis Hadar Goldin, Oron Shaul, Avera Mengistu and Hisham Al-Sayed being held by Hamas in Gaza

Israeli who crossed Syrian border refused to help commit terrorist attack

This was not the first time the woman has illegally crossed borders or put herself at risk with Israel's neighbors.

An Israeli soldier stands near the Quneitra crossing in the Golan Heights on the border line between Israel and Syria, October 15, 2018

Woman who crossed from Israel into Syria indicted

Syria is on the list of enemy states, and quite a few Israeli-Arabs who have crossed into Israel's neighbor and returned were indicted for their actions.

An old military fort on the Syrian border is seen, with snow-covered Mount Hermon in the background.

Should Israeli woman who crossed into Syria be indicted?

Israeli law prohibits citizens from traveling to enemy states and prohibits citizens of enemy states to cross into Israel, among other things.

View of Mount Hermon covered with snow as it seen from the northern Golan Heights, near the border with Syria, January 20, 2021.

Why can’t Netanyahu free Israelis from Gaza as easily as from Syria?

The prisoner swap happened so quickly that the public barely learned an Israeli woman had been held in Syria before she was already safely back in Israel.

A protest calling for the return of Avera Mengistu

Hezbollah media claims Israeli in Syria deal was seen at Lebanon border

The woman's Facebook account showed her traveling all over the country, including into parts of the Palestinian territories which Israelis are forbidden to enter.

A military zone on the border between Israel and Lebanon

Israeli woman released, returns home as two shepherds freed to Syria

The young woman was healthy and did not seem to be hurt in Syria.

View of Mount Hermon covered with snow as it seen from the northern Golan Heights, near the border with Syria, January 20, 2021.

Netanyahu says using ties with Putin to secure Israeli's release from Syria

The deal includes Israel releasing two Syrian prisoners in exchange for the release of the young woman who crossed into Syria's border.

View of Mount Hermon covered with snow as it seen from the northern Golan Heights, near the border with Syria, January 20, 2021.