Public sentiment surrounding the Israel-Hamas hostage situation is highly polarized, showcasing deep divisions in opinions. While many express relief and gratitude for the safe return of hostages, there is significant concern over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and ongoing violence. Comments reflect anger at perceived inequalities and criticize both Hamas and Israeli actions, emphasizing the need for accountability and lasting peace. A mix of cautious optimism for the future is also present, with calls for aid and support for civilians in Gaza.

Hamas

Israeli Government

International Community

OP’s post is from 2 years ago and is an intentionally misleading social media post. This discussion has gone downhill into counterfactual narratives. The truth is that insisting on these narratives actually plays into the idea that Palestinians have to be perfect victims, when in fact absolutely nothing justifies genocide or collective punishment which are both war crimes and illegal under international law.

normalgirl124

This was from a couple years ago iirc, but I think no matter what the exact details in terms of what atrocities or good treatment the Palestinian resistance fighters are responsible for - on Oct 7th and within Gaza to hostages and captive POWs, we should understand everything to be a REACTION to the occupation. 

There is so much misinformation and poor accounting as to what happened on Oct 7th and how many people Hamas/Palestinian resistance fighters killed versus those people killed by Palestinian organized crime that also broke out of Gaza versus those people Israel killed, and a proper accounting of the atrocities may never be possible - because of Israel's response and the genocide. 

I think we can hold multiple factors to be true, like:

- Civilians being held hostage is of course a war crime
- There is no leverage in taking hostages just to kill them (which means there doesn't seem to be much reason for Hamas/Palestinian resistance to intentionally harm hostages any further than the initial act), and the only reason anyone takes hostages is for leverage
- It is hard to feed hostages during a famine, and keep them sheltered from the sort of "warfare" Israel employed in Gaza, so even with the best of intentions I can't imagine things were GOOD, in addition to the trauma of being taken captive

At the end of the day, the occupying power will always have be more responsible for the reactions of the people they are occupying and oppressing. This does not mean that the victims are not victims and that being taken hostage is nice. Palestinian resistance is not looking at this from an idealist framework - so we should not either. 

That said of course Israel treats their Palestinian hostages worse. It is a country built on settler colonialism and has developed a profoundly racist in-group over the generations. Racist enough to commit genocide and even now not even being all that opposed to it. That doesn't mean it's ever nice to be held hostage.

andorgyny

They're forced to say this. Kind of disgusting that you would fall for this.

leaving_the_tevah

In this situation your mind is going to be muddled, so it doesn’t surprise me. Stockholm Syndrome has been proven to be a false theory but there *is* some evidence to suggest that those in captivity get used to their captors for a while. That doesn’t mean they befriend them, but it does mean they get so used to their situation they almost forget they’re a hostage, or just simply get used to it as a means of survival. 

I agree with someone who said this isn’t worth debating. We have more important things to focus on, such as the rebuilding of Gaza.

springsomnia

I doubt that they are truly grateful, on the other hand - we don't know what they really know about these two years. Do they know that their friends from Nova are dead and that their villages are burned? How do they perceive the whole situation? Whose fate they compare theirs with?

ikacman

I'm not sure if this worthy debating.  Keep focused on Palestinian prisoners.

I don't think it's effective to debate if Hamas was good.  It's very effective to debate that zionism is bad and that prisoners shouldcbe freed.

phap_ang

As a Muslim, all I can say that is that they should be treated well under Islamic law, no question. Torture, humiliation, starvation, degradation is NOT allowed. Women prisoners should be looked after by women, medical assistance must always be provided when needed.

However, I do not know in practice if Hamas truly adheres to these principles. And there’s no guarantee that emotions wont influence less committed or less restrained members of Hamas.

Zellgun

bro. come on. they were hostages. that is a form of torture, even if they were treated well by comparison to israel hostages. they were taken from their friends and families, not knowing if they were going to ever see them again for the rest of their lives. even asking this question is honestly so gross.

Kromostone123

Are you seriously asking us if we should take someone ~thanking~ the people who ~held them hostage~ seriously? 

The answer is no, of course not. Either the video was filmed with a threat of death, or with a fear of it, or even if not, with plenty of Stockholm syndrome. Use some common sense. Come on.

Electronic_Gold_3666

The caption would have you believe this is happening now but the video is from the first hostage release in November 2023, almost 2 years ago.

specialistsets

Ask yourself if you prefer to be captured by hamas or idf? I think id take hamas knowing the track records of idf. Hamas value their hostages cos they are bargaining chips while IDF see their prisoners worthless.

Gaijinrr

I think the most rational and reasonable way to look at it is that as long as someone is under control over someone else anything positive they say about their oppressor should be taken with a grain of salt, be it a hostage or prisoner of war.

tidderite

this is all the proof we need of the overall reality. https://youtu.be/rD7NI0tGbp8

Holographic_Mindleaf

ReasonablePossum_

tikkunolamist5

I think experiences differ as they were spread out and kept by different people. The reports, like the 60 minutes interview, I remember from the first released hostages they were held in regular homes, not tunnels. These were ordinary people, mostly women if I remember correctly. Maybe the soldiers were kept under more stringent conditions.

But isn’t there a lot of reporting about this in Israeli news?

Silver-bullit

I wouldn't buy into any of these videos. 

---

It's a fact that Israel has historically &amp; in present-day tortured Palestinian prisoners, hostages, etc. - adults and children alike.

Israeli soldiers have been caught on-film committing sexual assault/rape of Palestinian prisoners.

Palestinian civilians have testified that they were subject to and/or witnessed torture of various kinds.

---

Some Israeli hostages have said they were abused in captivity - including sexual abuse. 

Unlike 10/7 - the extent and veracity of the claims will likely never fully be known since it's not as though an independent party has access to the former hostages.

AFAIK, all information is filtered through Israel advocacy or the government. 

Which doesn't mean it's all fake; but it does mean there isn't another source to judge.

ContentChecker

I think they definitely treat their hostages better than the israelis do, but the truth is, whether or not they did, Hamas is still a terrorist organization that kills innocents.

I'm Muslim and 1000% pro palestine and anti zionist, and I guess it's good if Hamas treat their hostages well, but that doesn't change the fact that they are not peacemakers. And truly, I hate them for giving Zionists a scapegoat to justify their genocide.

Hamas is their go-to (as if Zionists weren't committing humanitarian atrocities and colonizing indigenous Palestinians for over 40 years before Hamas was founded), and it's sickening that they have someone to point that genocidal finger towards to "justify" their killing of innocents.

Legitimate_Eye4760

We know Ben Gvir has ordered the starvation of Palestinian prisoners. This amounts to some bread and water each day. 

One lawyer has stated her client, an old man has lost a quarter of his body weight. Barghouti has lost 40% of his body weight. 

Due to no food distributed in Gaza, the Israeli hostages have also now been deprived of food. In the early days they ate with their captive families. One released female hostage complained she was asked to help with the cooking and washing up. This ‘ill-treatment’ does not compare with the torture in Ofer prison, where prisoners died due to beatings and other horrific crimes. 

One released female hostage took the step of disputing Israeli claims that she was raped in captivity. She said nothing of that sort had happened. I expect hostage experiences varied.

carlsen002

[deleted]

Not sure about this exact footage but we know that Hamas has generally treated the hostages well, under the circumstances. There's a fair bit of post-release interviews and debriefs with Israelis who were taken and they pretty uniformly say that their captors didn't torture them, they gave them medical attention any time it was necessary, and fed them even when *everyone* was starving.

The fact that the captors in a place where they're basically having to survive half-starved in a wasteland with little food and supplies managed to treat their hostages better than the Israelis treated even innocent civilians they illegally snatched from international waters tells you everything.

Turbulent-Meeting-38

If this is officially all the living hostages, does anyone know the final numbers between how many people were taken and returned alive?

destuctir

I know it doesn't undo all the subsequent conflict, but, hostages being released is always a good thing

Edit: got rid of my previous edit. I didnt want to be political. I made it worse. damn, dude. I just want to be happy these people are free.

chopsuirak

Regardless of what you think of Israel, Palestine, the war, or the entire Arab-Israeli conflict in general, *this is a good thing*, for the sake of basic humanity. The taking of civilians as hostages is a war crime. No whataboutisms.

Terrariola

It's scary how all the comments feel a need to apologize for saying something normal about this. Of course it's a good thing.

CallHerGreeen

soupbowlII

This ceasefire is such a fraught thing emotionally. I'm very happy that people aren't dying anymore. I am filled with doubt that it will last more than a couple weeks, if that, until some excuse is found to break it. 

For now it's relief that the skies are quiet for the first time in years.

PM_ME_CATS_OR_BOOBS

Common, gang - let's give this more love - good news is good news

JonathanLarsonJr

Good, now get the IDF the fuck out of Palestine

FasterImagination

resident_eagle

I'm neither Jewish nor Israeli, but I keep seeing these videos of the hostages being released today and I've cried happy tears watching them all.

enilix

I honestly don't understand how people can actually put together a plan that involves mass murder and kidnapping and think things would work out for them.

IAmRules

retromobile

Its great news, although I just wish as apart of the peace deal Israel agreed to help rebuild Gaza buildings and roads. That would really go a long way in mending relations. Now the people of Gaza will go back to absolute destruction and there will always be resentment.

imamario

Returning hostages is a good thing.  
  
In complete isolation - this is good news.  
  
The real test starts now. Will the IDF withdraw and allow aid, or will the eradication of the people of Gaza continue? 
  
Innocent hostages were holding them back before presumably. What is holding them back now? A promise that nobody will hold them accountable to? Has it worked before?  
  
Fool me once etc..

GreyFoxNinjaFan

So now Israel will pull out of Gaza right?

LimitedWard

The fucking astroturfing going on here is hella wild.

wakethenight

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casualties\_of\_the\_Gaza\_war](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casualties_of_the_Gaza_war)

"As of 7 October 2025, over 70,100 people (68,172 Palestinians[^(\[4\])](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casualties_of_the_Gaza_war#cite_note-OCHA-Report-4)[^(\[9\])](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casualties_of_the_Gaza_war#cite_note-UNRWA-Situation-Report-10) and 1,983 Israelis[^(\[c\])](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casualties_of_the_Gaza_war#cite_note-48)) have been reported killed in the [Gaza war](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaza_war) according to the [Gaza Health Ministry](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaza_Health_Ministry) (GHM) and Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as [217 journalists and media workers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing_of_journalists_in_the_Gaza_war),[^(\[46\])](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casualties_of_the_Gaza_war#cite_note-49)[^(\[d\])](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casualties_of_the_Gaza_war#cite_note-52) 120 academics,[^(\[49\])](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casualties_of_the_Gaza_war#cite_note-53) and over 224 humanitarian aid workers, a number that includes 179 employees of [UNRWA](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UNRWA).[^(\[50\])](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casualties_of_the_Gaza_war#cite_note-54) Scholars have estimated 80% of Palestinians killed are civilians.[^(\[6\])](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casualties_of_the_Gaza_war#cite_note-thenation20240530-6)[^(\[5\])](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casualties_of_the_Gaza_war#cite_note-aoav20240802-5)[^(\[7\])](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casualties_of_the_Gaza_war#cite_note-AyoubChemaitellyAbuRaddad2024-7)[^(\[51\])](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casualties_of_the_Gaza_war#cite_note-aoav-claims-55) A study by [OHCHR](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OHCHR), which verified fatalities from three independent sources, found that 70% of the Palestinians killed in residential buildings or similar housing were women and children.[^(\[52\])](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casualties_of_the_Gaza_war#cite_note-axios20241108-56)[^(\[53\])](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casualties_of_the_Gaza_war#cite_note-ohchr-report-20241108-57)^(")

Lord_Xenu

Mr_Ectomy

Meanwhile, there are approximately 5,000 10,000 unaccounted for Palestinians who are presumed to be still buried under the rubble of the destroyed buildings in Gaza.  While it’s a huge relief that this nightmare may be over, let’s not forget there are literally thousands of innocents still missing. 

Ok_Conversation9750

Hamas and Palestinian support for Hamas disgusts me

DST_Soccer

All it took was letting Qatar have an airforce presence on US soil!

RunsWithSporks

whoopercheesie

Good, glad these people are finally out of that shithole.

TheGoMLStick

Now Watch Israel go back with their word and start carpet bombing again.

I wonder if they'll stop committing genocide now.

Reasonable-Wing-2271

Indalx

Top-Maize3496

So I guess this means Israel won’t be killing anymore innocents in Gaza?

Creatorman1

ditzanu95

Extreme_Vacation5419

The amount of anti semitism in this comment section from people who consider themselves to be progressives is not surprising at all. These idiots would have been full fledged Nazis in the 30s and still would have thought they were in the right.

DangleDaddy716

why aren't the free palestine cucks cheering? its almost as if they never really wanted peace or even knew what they were on about in the first place

haselham

has anyone else noticed the difference in language used when describing the israeli "hostages" vs the palestinian "detainees" and "prisoners"?

Horse_MD

I'm a man of my word. If Trump helped make this happen then I will applaud him for this. I will still fight just about every other thing he is doing for the same reason.

GenitalFurbies

This picture makes me cry. Sarah can stop shedding tears. Her children are home.✡️

Mark-harvey

RUIN_NATION_

A thousand dead innocent Palestinian children per hostage.

Israel deserves nothing but shame and disrespect.

pineappleninja64

The first legitimate win in this conflict and for the United States in a while.

illini81

The thumbnail in my feed looked like Will Arnett in Arrested Development when he gets rescued

theodo

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Hearing this story on NPR this morning irritated me so much. The best was the casual mention of the 20 hostages released by Hamas juxtaposed with the TWO THOUSAND Palestinian prisoners being released by Israel. And yet 100% of the focus was on the 20 hostages. Except for a passing mention of the dead hostages Hamas will give back as well, except like a third of those they can't find yet because they're under the rubble. Of course no mention of why they're under the rubble was given.

NextDoorNeighbrrs

Most of these people were IDF members, most of the Israeli held hostages were regular people, it’s interesting how people were obsessed with the former and not the latter, but we all know why

BKEnjoyerV2

Don’t forget Marwan Barghouti and Ahmad Saadat remain in prison!

Flashy_Beautiful2848

Once the occupiers resume their attacks, what bargaining chips will the Gazans have to negotiate another peace? I don't want to be pessimistic but is this the nail in the coffin for the resistance? We know that without outside pressure, Israel will not stop until every Palestinian is killed or displaced.

Necrobard

POWs. These were all concentration camp guards and einzatsgruppen

Chombywombo

Ok maybe I do condemn hamas for something.

GreenGorillaWhale

HugeVibes

The Israeli newspapers are fawning over Trump right now, calling him beloved and thanking him for his service. A certain sub is tripping over themselves to say the same things. They talk about "we" as if the US is Israel too, but I honestly want to know why they care so much about Israel if the administration is supposed to be "America First?" BB is a war criminal. Lock that man up

0rganic_Corn

Express-Champion2043

Identity politics can be seen here in all its ugliness. Israel is first and foremost the second name of Jacob (see Genesis 32:28), and his people (the Israelis) readily accepted being forced into exile after angering their God, who has no name and no image. This people has no state and is even anti-statist.

Benoit_Guillette

All the living hostages. Hamas says it will only
return 4 bodies of deceased hostages out of 28 today.

agenmossad

Hamas has released [all the Israeli hostages](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/10/13/hostages-gaza-who-has-been-released/).

Early on Monday, [seven captives were handed to the Red Cross](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/10/13/hamas-hostage-release-live-trump-starmer-gaza-war/) in Gaza City, 737 days after they were taken on Oct 7 2023.

The remaining 13 were handed over in southern Gaza by armed [plain-clothes Hamas members](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/hamas) without ceremony.

They were driven through the pockmarked streets of Gaza, partially destroyed by relentless Israeli bombing over the past two years.

The [Israel Defense Forces](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/israel) (IDF) drove the freed captives to Re’im military base in southern Israel, where their relatives were waiting.

Some of the hostages were allowed to call their loved ones on the journey, according to images released on social media.

**Read more:** [**https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/10/13/hamas-releases-all-israeli-hostages/**](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/10/13/hamas-releases-all-israeli-hostages/)

TheTelegraph

Hard to believe the title is real.

I was among those who believed Hamas will never let this happen, hostages being its biggest leverage.

I was wrong and very happy about it.

Many would say this is the Trump effect and no doubt he did a lot to help clinch this, securing support even from Qatar and Turkey; however it's the shift in position of Arab regimes towards armed nonstate actors like Hamas (and Hezbolla), seeing them as destabilizing elements, along with the weakening of Iran by Israel and US - that allowed the isolation of Hamas leaders which led to this remarkable outcome.

rnev64

One-Progress999

Cool. Next step Hamas disarm, and Hamas are free to leave if they wish. 

Here’s hoping.

Akitten

wikipuff

And after two years, what exactly have the Palestinians won or accomplished? Nothing. Just like their failed revolts in Jordan and Lebanon, and their failed intifadas.

maximus_danus

OP is extremely wrong and inaccurate.

All the living hostages have been released, NOT all the hostages. Hamas has just declared their intent to violate the cease fire by stating they will release today far fewer dead hostages than they themselves said they would a few days ago.

Hamas must release every last and single hostage as per the cease fire argument, or the IDF will complete it's capture of Gaza City.

ZeroByter

user6161616

Again with the terrible titles. Hamas forced to release hostages and gets terrorists with life sentences in return otherwise they face complete collapse and ruin of Gaza.

Sinan_reis

Guess brute force and wielding a big stick does help once in a while in negotiations huh? Can't imagine this deal would have went through with Biden or Harris without handing over massive concessions.

Mysterious-Coconut24

when will the palestinian prisoners be released now?

kaneki_uzumaki20

So doesn't this prove that Israel could have got the hostages back long ago? Trump just forced them to do a deal for a ceasefire in exchange for hostages, which Israel refused.

Anonon_990

Given there's no good reason why now and not earlier, a lot of people died senselessly.

SorrowOrSuffering

I would guess prety much everyone with a brain will feel glad for the hostages and their fmily.

Enough_Series_8392

what kinda media outlet ahh question is that

greenanimetrumpetcar

Good.  Let's keep the good times going by stopping violence against people and children.

tapdancinghellspawn

2cool4school_35

Recent developments in the Israel-Hamas conflict include the handover of deceased captives by Hamas to Israel amidst a fragile ceasefire. The Red Cross is involved in the transfer of these remains. The Israeli military reports ongoing violence, including drone strikes that have resulted in Palestinian casualties, while negotiations continue regarding the fate of surviving hostages. The humanitarian crisis in Gaza is deepening, with critical shortages of necessities and a rising need for mental health support, especially amongst children affected by the conflict.

Israel-Hamas Hostage Situation

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