Israel sends helicopters to retrieve hostages PHOTO / VIDEO

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have dispatched helicopters to retrieve hostages set to be released by Hamas, the IDF press service stated, per Caliber.Az.

The ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, sparked by Hamas's October 7, 2023, attacks that killed over 1,200 Israelis and took 251 hostages, has seen multiple failed ceasefires. A fragile January 2025 truce released 33 Israeli and 5 Thai hostages in exchange for 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, but it collapsed by March amid mutual accusations of violations. 

Renewed U.S.-brokered talks, announced October 9, 2025, by President Trump, led to a new phased ceasefire starting October 10, aiming to free all 47 remaining hostages (at least 20 believed alive) for nearly 2,000 Palestinian detainees and a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.  

By Khagan Isayev