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captivity

Israeli-Russian doctoral researcher from Princeton University, Elizabeth Tsurkov, who was kidnapped in Iraq, in 2023 and released last September, speaks during an interview in Ramat Gan, Israel, on November 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)
November 11, 2025, 1:25 pm
Elizabeth Tsurkov recovering from captivity and torture at hands of Iraqi terrorists
Kataeb Hezbollah originally kidnapped the researcher hoping to get ransom for her as a foreigner, she says, but started torturing her when they discovered she was Israeli
By Melanie Lidman
Eitan Yahalomi, 12, reunites with his mother at the Kerem Shalom crossing in Israel, on November 27, 2023, after being released as a hostage by Hamas in a truce agreement. (Israel Defense Forces)
August 12, 2024, 8:54 pm
Groundbreaking study of 26 former Hamas hostages charts physical, psychological trauma
Researchers find that the 19 children and 7 women faced poor sanitation, hunger and darkness; lead researcher worries about the hostages still held in Gaza
By Diana Bletter
A screenshot from a segment aired on Hadashot TV news, December 15, 2017, on the IDF's captivity training program for elite units. (Screen capture: Hadashot news)
December 16, 2017, 6:21 pm
Beatings, threats, humiliations: How the IDF trains soldiers for enemy captivity
Soldiers from military’s most elite units shed light on 2 week long course meant to prepare commandos for the possibility of capture, imprisonment
By ToI Staff
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks to reporters on July 10, 2015 outside the family home of Avraham Mensigu, an Israeli captive held in Gaza. (Screen capture/Channel 2)
July 10, 2015, 5:56 pm
Netanyahu meets Mengistu family, vows to bring him and other Gaza captive home
PM goes to Ashkelon to visit family of Hamas hostage; chief negotiator Lior Lotan also makes trip to apologize for earlier conduct
By ToI Staff
Agurnesh Mengistu, the mother of Avraham Mengistu, center, seen at a press conference at their home in Ashkelon, after a gag order was lifted over his disappearance in the Gaza Strip, on July 8, 2015. (Flash90)
July 10, 2015, 3:20 pm
Netanyahu set to visit family of Israeli hostage
PM heads to Ashkelon amid uproar over his negotiator’s conduct; father of 2nd Israeli captive says no one contacted him
By ToI Staff
Agurnesh Mengistu, the mother of Avraham Mengistu, seen at their home in Ashkelon, after a gag order was lifted over his disappearance in the Gaza Strip, on July 8, 2015 (Flash90)
July 10, 2015, 2:34 pm
The art (or lack thereof) of negotiations
Lifting of gag order on 2 Israelis held in Gaza opens a floodgate of criticism against government; Iranian nuke talks miss another deadline
By Joshua Davidovich
King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia (photo credit: AP/Hassan Ammar/File)
March 10, 2014, 2:42 am
Saudi princesses plead for freedom
Four of King Abdullah’s daughters are said to have been held in captivity for 13 years in the royal palace compound in Jeddah
By ToI Staff
Gilad Shalit attends Bastille Day celebrations at the French Ambassador to Israel Christophe Bigot's residence in Tel Aviv in July. Shalit hasn't given many details about his captivity in Gaza, but he hasn't vanished from sight either. (photo credit: Ariel Schalit/AP)
July 14, 2012, 10:40 am
Nine months after being freed from captivity, Gilad Shalit remains a mystery
The former Israeli soldier is emerging from the shadows — writing a column and showing up at parties — but has revealed little about his time in Gaza
By Aron Heller
Gilad Shalit (photo credit: Avishag Shar-Yashuv/Flash90/File)
April 18, 2012, 9:25 am
Citizen Shalit
Released Hamas captive officially completes his army service
By Michal Shmulovich
Gilad Shalit on the day of his release from Gaza (photo credit: Ariel Hermoni/Defense Ministry/Flash90)
April 17, 2012, 10:55 pm
Gilad Shalit to officially complete his army service Wednesday
Defense Ministry will oversee his rehabilitation as a civilian
By Michal Shmulovich
Gilad Shalit on the day of his release from Gaza (photo credit: Ariel Hermoni/Defense Ministry/Flash90)
March 13, 2012, 6:38 pm
Gilad Shalit to be discharged from IDF this month
Five months after the end of his captivity, Shalit returns to civilian life
By Michal Shmulovich
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