...
Breaking Update

Herzog at Hostage Square: World Must Act to Free Israelis Held by Hamas

Israeli President Isaac Herzog calls for urgent action to free Israelis held by Hamas in Gaza, urging the world to intervene. Protesters launch nationwide

Pesach BensonBreaking News

Jerusalem, 17 August, 2025 (TPS-IL) — Israeli President Isaac Herzog visited Hostage Square in Tel Aviv on Sunday, meeting families of the roughly 50 Israelis held by Hamas in Gaza. Speaking to the international media, Herzog called for urgent pressure on Hamas, saying, “Stop being a bunch of hypocrites… no deal, no nothing, until you release them.”

Joined by Sharon Sharabi, whose brother survived nearly 500 days in captivity, and Yael Adar, mother of a soldier whose body remains held by Hamas, Herzog emphasized, “Our sons and daughters are there… We want them back home as soon as possible.” He also met privately with other hostage families.

Protesters demanding an end to the war and the immediate return of the hostages launched a nationwide strike.

author avatar
Pesach Benson
Live Breaking Updates

Breaking News Coverage

Real-time breaking news coverage from Israel and the Middle East. Stay informed with the latest developments as they happen.

Sunday, 25 January 2026Updated continuously
Economy2 days ago

Millions Allocated for New Housing Developments in Migdal HaEmek

Israel's Ministry of Construction and Housing allocated ₪6.9 million ($2.2M) to reinforce Migdal HaEmek housing, improving earthquake safety and living.

Politics2 days ago

Leaders from Around the World Expected to Attend Israel’s ‘Generation Truth’ Conference to Combat Antisemitism

World leaders, including prime ministers and ministers, will attend Israel's 'Generation Truth' conference in Jerusalem Jan 26-27 to combat antisemitism.

Holidays2 days ago

Israeli Space Week to Be Celebrated Next Week

Israeli Space Week 2026 runs Jan 25-29 with dozens of events, including the Ilan Ramon International Space Conference featuring nine global astronauts.

Security2 days ago

Israeli Forces Eliminate 10 Hezbollah Terrorists Who Embedded Themselves in Civilian Areas in Local Villages

Israeli forces eliminated 10 Hezbollah terrorists embedded in civilian areas of South Lebanon villages, exposing their exploitation of local infrastructure for.

Politics2 days ago

Israel’s President Meets with Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi in Davos

Israeli President Isaac Herzog met Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi in Davos, welcoming the establishment of diplomatic relations between their.

Business2 days ago

Israel Participates in Madrid’s FITUR Tourism Fair for Spanish Speakers

Israel joins Madrid's FITUR tourism fair, aiming to boost visitors from Spanish-speaking markets with focus on religious tourism.

Public2 days ago

Netanyahu mourns fallen reservist Assael Babad z”l

Prime Minister Netanyahu mourns fallen reserve soldier Sergeant Major Assael Babad z"l, who died today from serious wounds sustained in Rafah 3 months ago.

Business2 days ago

AI Startup CareBestie Secures $4.4M Seed to Transform Home Health Monitoring

Israeli AI startup CareBestie secures $4.4M seed funding led by TLV Partners to transform home health monitoring with voice-based patient engagement.

Public3 days ago

Millions in undeclared crypto sales abroad

Israel's Tax Authority investigates Galah Luib for undeclared crypto sales totaling NIS 7 million abroad, with NIS 23 million in deposits. His luxury assets far.

Business3 days ago

$150M Investment Firm Emerges to Propel Deep-Tech Startups Across Israel and the U.S.

Deep33 Ventures launches with a $150M fund to propel Israeli and U.S. deep-tech startups, addressing AI bottlenecks and fostering an allied infrastructure.