The Times of Israel https://www.timesofisrael.com/topic/kidnappings/ News from Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish World Tue, 09 Jun 2026 16:00:28 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://static-cdn.toi-media.com/www/uploads/2018/11/toi_icon_512-200x200.png kidnappings | The Times of Israel https://www.timesofisrael.com/topic/kidnappings/ 32 32 US journalist in Iraq freed one week after she was kidnapped by Kataeb Hezbollah https://www.timesofisrael.com/us-journalist-kidnapped-in-iraq-freed-one-week-after-kidnapping-by-kataeb-hezbollah/ Tue, 07 Apr 2026 19:31:34 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3797232 Freelance reporter Shelly Kittleson had been held in Baghdad, says source, and was ordered to 'leave the country immediately' after being released by Iran-backed militia

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]]> American journalist kidnapped in Baghdad; Iraq says manhunt underway, one detained https://www.timesofisrael.com/american-journalist-kidnapped-in-baghdad-iraq-says-manhunt-underway-one-detained/ Tue, 31 Mar 2026 21:33:33 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3792446 Footage appears to show freelancer Shelly Kittleson being shoved into car by unknown assailants; US says it 'fulfilled its duty' by warning her of threats against her ahead of time

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]]> Man kidnaps daughters to West Bank; officers rescue them, arrest him https://www.timesofisrael.com/man-kidnaps-daughters-to-west-bank-officers-rescue-them-arrest-him/ Thu, 12 Mar 2026 13:31:12 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3776095 After reported incident of domestic violence in Ashdod, father allegedly grabs children, aged 1 and 3, and heads to Palestinian village; cops track him, return kids to mother

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]]> Israeli rescued from Jericho abduction says she was threatened with gun, assaulted https://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-rescued-from-jericho-abduction-says-she-was-threatened-with-gun-assaulted/ Mon, 22 Dec 2025 09:10:15 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3717450 Reports say woman told police she was lured to West Bank by man she met online, who she thought was Jewish; woman was extracted by PA forces, returned to Israel

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]]> PA forces extract Israeli from Jericho who reported being kidnapped https://www.timesofisrael.com/pa-forces-extract-israeli-from-jericho-who-reported-being-kidnapped/ Fri, 19 Dec 2025 19:55:52 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?post_type=liveblog_entry&p=3716078 Reports say woman told investigators she was assaulted by group of men at an apartment in the West Bank city after she was brought there unknowingly by a work acquaintance

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]]> Arab Israeli, 22, accused of plot to kidnap soldier as leverage to force end of Gaza war https://www.timesofisrael.com/arab-israeli-22-accused-of-plot-to-kidnap-soldier-as-leverage-to-force-end-of-gaza-war/ Thu, 25 Sep 2025 09:54:29 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3649583 Amin Hassan Abdelqader Azzam, from Taybeh, faces terror charges for practicing shooting with paintball gun, downloading Hamas handbook, seeking religious approval to hold hostage

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]]> Netanyahu compares October 7 hostages to girls kidnapped by Boko Haram https://www.timesofisrael.com/netanyahu-compares-october-7-hostages-to-girls-kidnapped-by-boko-haram/ Mon, 26 May 2025 07:13:57 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3558009 PM recorded telling families Israel doing more than any other country to return its abducted citizens, but mass kidnappings are not unique to Hamas

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]]> UK jails 3 for kidnapping Israeli music producer: ‘Felt like my own personal Oct. 7’ https://www.timesofisrael.com/uk-jails-3-for-kidnapping-israeli-music-producer-felt-like-my-own-personal-oct-7/ Sat, 15 Mar 2025 04:45:42 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3503216 Judge says the trio were 'motivated by events taking place elsewhere in the world' and chose victim Itay Kashti based on their 'understanding of his wealth and his Jewish heritage'

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]]> West Bank terror cell indicted over plot to attack, kidnap Israelis https://www.timesofisrael.com/west-bank-terror-cell-indicted-over-plot-to-attack-kidnap-israelis/ Mon, 22 Jul 2024 14:48:13 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?post_type=liveblog_entry&p=3337316 Shin Bet says terror suspects had dug a hole near one of their homes that they intended to use to hold Israeli hostages

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]]> Last defendants in Lev Tahor abduction case sentenced to over 10 years in US prison https://www.timesofisrael.com/last-defendants-in-lev-tahor-abduction-case-sentenced-to-over-10-years-in-us-prison/ Thu, 11 Jul 2024 03:35:09 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3329199 NY court hands down sentences to three brothers who were convicted for child exploitation and kidnapping on behalf of extremist Jewish cult

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]]> Two arrested on suspicion of kidnapping, raping 15-year-old girl https://www.timesofisrael.com/two-arrested-on-suspicion-of-kidnapping-raping-15-year-old-girl/ Mon, 01 Apr 2024 10:13:30 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3258203 Friend alerts police that teen was missing from north, sparking hunt; officers find her in south near car with 2 men; tests indicate assault, suspects claim they only gave her ride

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]]> 3 defendants in Lev Tahor cult abduction case convicted in NY of 2018 kidnapping https://www.timesofisrael.com/3-defendants-in-lev-tahor-cult-abduction-case-convicted-in-ny-of-2018-kidnapping/ Fri, 29 Mar 2024 05:16:23 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3256208 Brothers Yoil Weingarten, Yakov Weingarten and Shmiel Weingarten, of extremist sect, found guilty for their role in abducting two children from their mother's home in the Catskills

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]]> 200 kidnapped Nigerian students and staff released from captivity https://www.timesofisrael.com/200-kidnapped-nigerian-students-and-staff-released-from-captivity/ Sun, 24 Mar 2024 08:17:40 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3252200 Kaduna Governor Uba Sani says country's national security adviser coordinated development, thanks armed forces; doesn't specify how captives, abducted earlier in month, were freed

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]]> Relative of freed captives say Hamas branded child hostages in case they escaped https://www.timesofisrael.com/relative-of-freed-captives-say-hamas-branded-child-hostages-in-case-they-escaped/ Fri, 01 Dec 2023 07:56:59 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3167906 Aunt says veterinarian operated on captive niece's arm; hostages survived on 'minimal food'; doctor says returning captives had 'undergone hardship, physically and mentally'

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]]> 10 members of same kibbutz family believed held by Hamas, including 3 children https://www.timesofisrael.com/10-members-of-same-kibbutz-family-believed-held-by-hamas-including-3-children/ Wed, 11 Oct 2023 20:03:09 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3119927 Yaheli, 3, and Naveh, 8, from Kibbutz Be'eri, have dual German citizenship. Aunt meets with German ambassador, but her requests to meet Israeli ministers go unanswered

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