Tovah Lazaroff

US special envoy Amos Hochstein urged Israel, Lebanon, and the Iranian-backed group Hezbollah to seize the present opportunity and agree to a ceasefire that would end the war that has raged since October 8 of last year.

He reflected on the failed May 31 three-phase deal that never came to fruition, explaining that a new approach was necessary.

As hostage talks stall, Netanyahu promises rewards for returns and warns hostage captors that Israel will pursue them.

"Certainly, Turkey is a country that has added influence with Hamas," he added, but he stressed that he did not want to speculate on whether Turkey would become such a mediator.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was blunt about that strategy, telling the Knesset plenum on Monday, that Israel was negotiating under fire.

“I can't depend on the Lebanese army to protect us from Hezbollah,” a displaced resident of the Israeli border city of Kiryat Shimona said.

Tovah Lazaroff · 8 min read JERUSALEM — The ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon's Hezbollah appeared on the verge of collapse this week — something that is not a surprise to many Israelis.

Sagui Dekel-Chen, 36, and Keith Siegel, 65, are among more than 33 hostages expected to be released during the first phase of the agreement.

“I’ve returned to my beloved life,” former hostage Emily Damari, 28, posted on social media after her release.

Tovah Lazaroff · 4 min read JERUSALEM —Three women — a soccer fan, a dancer and a veterinary nurse — returned to Israel on