Israeli and Palestinian captives and prisoners: A timeline of key events

Al JazeeraCenterEN 2 min read 100% complete by By News AgenciesJanuary 26, 2026 at 08:40 PM

AI Summary

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In January 2026, Israeli authorities announced the recovery of the remains of the last Israeli captive in Gaza, fulfilling a key component of a ceasefire deal with Hamas. The article outlines a timeline of events related to Israeli captives held in Gaza and Palestinians detained by Israel, which have been central to ceasefire negotiations. In October 2023, Palestinian fighters captured 251 Israelis during an attack on southern Israel. A November 2023 deal led to the release of some Israeli and foreign captives in exchange for Palestinian detainees. Palestinians detained by Israel have allegedly faced systematic abuse in prisons. The return of captives became a significant issue during the two-year Israel-Palestine war, causing divisions within Israel regarding negotiation strategies.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

United States 30% Rafah 30% Ran Gvili 40% Hamas ×370% Palestinians ×570% Gaza ×780% Israel ×1490%

Keywords

israeli captives 90% palestinian prisoners 90% ceasefire talks 80% hamas 70% israel-palestine war 60% detention centres 60% october 7 attacks 50% humanitarian aid 50% torture 40%