Latest news with #captives
Washington Post
6 days ago
- General
- Washington Post
Antisemitism does not respect national borders
The walkers in Boulder, Colorado, had gathered peacefully every Sunday afternoon at 1 o'clock to ensure that the world did not forget hostages Hamas still holds, more than 600 days after the terrorist attacks against Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. The Boulder effort, part of a global initiative called Run for Their Lives, has been profound yet modest: just a few dozen people wearing red, walking along a pedestrian mall and saying the captives' names.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
'Seventh heaven': Tears and laughter as Ukrainian POWs return
Waxy and emaciated, Konstantin Steblev spoke to his mother for the first time in three years after being released as part of the biggest ever prisoner swap between Russia and Ukraine. "Hello mum, how are you?," the 31-year-old soldier said, moments after stepping back onto Ukrainian soil on Friday. "I love you. Don't be sad. It wasn't my fault. I promised I would come back safe and sound," he said, smiling but with watery eyes. Steblev, who was captured at the start of Russia's invasion, was one of 390 military and civilian prisoners released in exchange for 390 sent back to Russia. More swaps are expected on Saturday and Sunday to bring the total to 1,000 for 1,000 as agreed in talks between Russia and Ukraine in Istanbul last week. Steblev arrived with the other former captives by coach at a local hospital where hundreds of relatives were waiting, shouting, crying and singing "Congratulations!" During the journey back to Ukraine, Steblev told AFP he experienced "indescribable" emotions. "It's simply crazy. Crazy feelings," he said. - 'In seventh heaven' - During his years of captivity, Steblev said he managed to keep going thanks to his wife. "She knows I am strong and that I am not going to give up just like that," he said, adding that now he just wants to be with his family. "It's my absolute priority," he said. After that, he said it would be up to his wife to decide on the next steps. "She will tell me and will show me how to act in future," he said. Thin, tired and looking slightly lost, the freshly released prisoners filed into a local hospital for medical checks. But Olena and Oleksandr stayed outside, locked in a tight embrace despite the cameras pointed at them. They said they had not seen each other in 22 months since Oleksandr was captured by Russia. "I am in seventh heaven," the 45-year-old said in his wife's arms. He said his dream now was to "eat... eat and spend time with my family". - 'They did not break him' - As the buses arrived at the hospital, relatives of soldiers who are still in prison ran towards the freed men to show them images of their loved ones and ask if they had seen them during their captivity. Some women walked away crying when they failed to get any news. Some know that their relatives are jailed but others have no news at all and desperately hope for any scrap of information. Moments after being reunited with her husband Andriy after three years apart, Elia, 33, embraced the tearful mother of a soldier who had no news about her son. When she saw her husband, Elia said her "heart was beating out of my chest" and she cried with joy. "I have been waiting so long for this," she said. Several former prisoners of war interviewed by AFP in the past have spoken of harsh conditions and torture in Russian prisons. Elia is now thinking about the future and about having a child with her husband. But she said she knew that the path to rehabilitation would be a long one for him. "He has an empty stare but I know they did not break him. The guys with him told me he was very strong," she said. fv/dt/js
Fox News
11-05-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Remains of 3 missing people found in Syria, identities unknown
The remains of three people were discovered at a site in northern Syria on Sunday, according to the Jerusalem Post. The identities have yet to be confirmed, and it was not known if any were Americans. The State Department did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for confirmation. Syria has previously denied claims it abducted or held Americans, though the U.S. reportedly engaged in back-channel talks with Syria with the help of Lebanese intermediaries for years, including under the Biden administration, to no avail. Rebels seized the capital city of Damascus in December, ousting Assad and renewing hope in the effort to free any potential captives.
Al Bawaba
10-05-2025
- Politics
- Al Bawaba
Footage of Israeli captive attacking Sara Netanyahu - Al-Qassam
ALBAWABA – The Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas's military wing, released a new video of an Israeli captive in Gaza, identified as "Prisoner No. 21", in which he speaks about the deteriorating conditions faced by captives and launches a sharp attack on Israeli leadership—particularly Sara Netanyahu, the wife of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In the recorded message, the captive described the worsening physical and psychological state of fellow captive "Prisoner No. 22", claiming he has repeatedly tried to harm himself and others. He recounted a recent incident where he had to intervene—alongside a Qassam fighter—to prevent No. 22 from self-harm. The video showed No. 22 lying motionless and exhausted. According to the speaker, Prisoner No. 22 refuses to eat or drink, though resources are already extremely scarce. He said his cellmate is consumed with thoughts of his wife and son, and warned of the consequences if the situation continues unchecked. 'What will happen if I leave him alone? I can't imagine it,' he said, noting that he had also stopped eating in solidarity, stating, "Our fate is in your hands." The captive addressed Israeli pilots, expressing pride in those who refused to fly combat missions out of concern for captive safety. However, he criticized those still conducting airstrikes on Gaza, accusing them of endangering both hostages and civilians. 'What do you tell your families? What do you tell ours?' he asked. He further claimed that several hostages remain alive and suggested the Israeli public should 'ask Sara Netanyahu' about their exact number, implying she holds information not shared with the public. Directly addressing her, he asked, 'How many of us need to die before we're allowed to return home? Do you want fewer than 20 hostages or more? Just say it.' The captive condemned the war's continuation, describing it as a "nightmare" that has dragged on for a year and seven months. 'How has this war lasted this long? Have you gone mad?' he asked angrily. He held Israeli decision-makers responsible for the ongoing bloodshed, saying their hands were stained with the blood of both soldiers and civilians. He ended by calling for immediate action to end the war, warning, 'Time is running out.' The video ended with a message from the Qassam Brigades: 'They will not return except through a deal. Time is running out.' This marks yet another instance where Hamas has used video footage of Israeli captives to pressure the Israeli government, highlight humanitarian concerns, and demand negotiations for a prisoner exchange.
Emirates 24/7
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Emirates 24/7
UAE mediation efforts succeed with new exchange of 410 captives between Russia, Ukraine
The United Arab Emirates has announced the success of mediation efforts in a new exchange of war captives between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Ukraine, which included 205 Ukrainian captives and 205 Russian captives, bringing the overall number exchanged through UAE mediation efforts to 4,181. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) expressed its appreciation to the two countries for their cooperation with the UAE's mediation endeavors. This reflects the confidence and appreciation of both countries for the UAE's role in supporting all efforts to resolve the crisis between Russia and Ukraine. The Ministry emphasised that the success of this mediation, the fifteenth, reflects the distinguished ties between the UAE and the two countries. Furthermore, the Ministry reaffirmed the UAE's commitment to ensuring the success of all efforts aimed at finding a peaceful solution to the conflict in Ukraine, and mitigating the humanitarian impacts as a result of the crisis, including on refugees and captives. Follow Emirates 24|7 on Google News.
