Kibbutz Nir Oz

The Bibas family, father Yarden, mother Shiri, baby Kfir and four-year-old Ariel, were taken captive by Hamas terrorists on October 7, 2023 from Kibbutz Nir Oz. (Courtesy)

IDF investigating ‘cruel’ Hamas claim that Bibas children, mother killed in Gaza

Shiri Bibas, 4-year-old Ariel and 10-month-old Kfir believed to have been transferred by Hamas to smaller terror group in southern city of Khan Younis

Yaffa Adar, center, being brought back home to Israel on November 24, 2023. (Courtesy)

As released hostages return home, they learn of relatives killed, homes destroyed

By Jessica Steinberg

Aryeh Zalmanovich (top right) Maya Goren (top left), Ronen Engel (bottom left), and Eliyahu Margalit (bottom right), all of whom who were taken hostage from Kibbutz Nir Oz by Hamas on October 7 and declared dead on December 1, 2023. (Courtesy; combination image: Times of Israel)

December 1, 2023, 4:25 pm

Army: 4 Nir Oz residents abducted in Oct. 7 onslaught died in Hamas captivity

IDF confirms deaths of Aryeh Zalmanovich, Maya Goren, Ronen Engel, Eliyahu Margalit; Zalmanovich, 85, was the oldest hostage; relatives of Engel and Margalit were freed this week

By ToI Staff

Sapir Cohen was taken captive from Kibbutz Nir Oz during the October 7 attack by Hamas terrorists. She was freed on November 30, 2023. (Courtesy)

November 30, 2023, 11:22 pm

Sapir Cohen, released from Gaza; boyfriend Sasha Trufanov still a hostage

Russian-Israeli Trupanov family abducted or killed on Kibbutz Nir Oz, Oct. 7; mother and grandmother freed Nov. 29

By ToI Staff

Left: Ofir Tzarfati; Right: Aviv Atzili (Courtesy)

November 30, 2023, 9:29 pm

Two Israelis missing since October 7 attacks confirmed to have been killed

Day after his wife was freed, kibbutz says Aviv Atzili was killed during Hamas attack; family of Ofir Tzarfati, presumed captive since rave, is told he is dead

By ToI Staff

November 29, 2023, 7:05 pm

IDF investigating ‘cruel’ Hamas claim that Bibas children, mother killed in Gaza

Shiri Bibas, 4-year-old Ariel and 10-month-old Kfir believed to have been transferred by Hamas to smaller terror group in southern city of Khan Younis

By Emanuel Fabian and ToI Staff

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, center, lays the foundation stone for a new community, Ofir, as he meets with municipal leaders of communities close to the Gaza Strip, November 29, 2023. (Kobi Gideon/GPO)

November 29, 2023, 3:16 pm

Several Gaza border communities refuse to send reps to meeting with Netanyahu

PM meets regional council heads, but some kibbutzim decry short notice for meeting, claim lack of interest, as government under fire for poor response to Oct. 7 victims

By Michael Horovitz

From left to right: Yahli Chen, Noga Peleg, Aya Atzilia, and Leah Winkler, Nofei Habsor students who directed the short film "The Kidnapping," in a Channel 12 report, November 29, 2023. (Channel 12 news: used in accordance with Clause 27a of the Copyright Law)

November 29, 2023, 12:31 pm

Nir Oz high schoolers made prescient short film about abduction months before Oct. 7

Aya Atzili, whose parents were kidnapped by Hamas terrorists, says movie was meant to be ‘imaginary,’ group ‘laughed about it’; students vow to return, live in community

By Michael Horovitz

Sahar Calderon, right, hugs her mother after being released from Hamas captivity on November 27, 2023. (Israel Defense Forces)

November 28, 2023, 8:33 pm

As Calderon family rejoices at Sahar and Erez’s return, fight continues for dad Ofer

It’s complicated and happy and sad at the time time’: Family member Abbey Onn cites conflicted emotions as two children welcomed home

By Jessica Steinberg

Ofri Bibas Levy, sister of Yarden Bibas, held hostage in Gaza with his wife, Shiri and two kids, Kfir and Ariel, speaks at a press conference calling for the release of the family, at 'Hostages Square' in Tel Aviv, Nov. 28, 2023. (Miriam Alster/Flash90)

November 28, 2023, 3:45 pm

Aunt of Ariel, 4, and 10-month-old Kfir Bibas: ‘We hope they aren’t held as a trophy’

Family calls for immediate release of Bibas family kidnapped from Nir Oz on October 7; two redheaded children are the youngest hostages still held in Gaza

By Jessica Steinberg

November 28, 2023, 9:01 am

IDF: Hamas abducted Bibas family, including baby, handed them to other terror group

Relatives of 10-month-old Kfir, 4-year-old Ariel and parents Shiri and Yarden say they feel ‘great uncertainty’ as it appears mom and kids may not be released during current truce

By ToI Staff

Yahya Sinwar, leader of Hamas in the Gaza Strip, speaks during a protest east of Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip on April 6, 2018. (AFP/Said Khatib)

November 28, 2023, 6:17 am

Report: Hamas leader Sinwar met hostages from Israel in Gaza tunnel

Freed Israeli hostage tells family that terror chief assured group they were ‘in the most protected place,’ speaking near-unaccented Hebrew he learned in prison

By ToI Staff

Sharon Aloni Cunio, 34, her husband David Cunio, 34, and their twin daughters, Yuli and Emma, 3, were abducted from Kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7, 2023. Sharon, Yuli and Emma were released on November 27, 2023. (Courtesy)

November 27, 2023, 10:57 pm

Sharon Aloni Cunio, twins Yuli and Emma, 3, freed; father David still in Gaza

Danielle Aloni, 44, and daughter Emilia, 5, members of wider family, were returned to Israel on November 24

By ToI Staff

Amiram Cooper was taken captive by Hamas terrorists to Gaza from Kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7, 2023 (Courtesy)

November 27, 2023, 7:59 pm

Taken captive: Nir Oz founder Amiram Cooper; wife Nurit released

Husband and wife held in the same underground room with other hostages taken captive on October 7 by Hamas

By ToI Staff

November 27, 2023, 9:26 am

As released hostages return home, they learn of relatives killed, homes destroyed

Along with the joy of reunion, a granddaughter and a cousin had bad news for the returnees, who they say are thinner but tough – with a long way to go in processing the nightmare

By Jessica Steinberg

Doron Asher and her two young daughters Raz, 4, and Aviv, 2, are reunited with husband and father Yoni, on November 25, 2023. (Schneider Children's Hospital)

November 25, 2023, 3:29 pm

In photos and videos, first freed hostages hold emotional reunions with families

Tears of joy as 4 children, 3 mothers, 6 elderly women released by Hamas meet with loved ones after 49 days in captivity

By ToI Staff

November 24, 2023, 9:45 pm

Israelis celebrate return of hostage Yaffa Adar, 85, whose stoicism ’embodies Zionism’

Grandmother of eight became an icon of resilience after apparently showing unbreakable resolve as she was kidnapped in mobility scooter on October 7

By Canaan Lidor