By the end of 2025, all living hostages will be free. A fragile ceasefire will be in effect – following the twelve-day war in June, this also applies to Iran. A look back.
Anxiety for hostages, grief for those killed, and unbridled joy at the return of the living characterize the year 2025 in Israel. Both at the end of January and in October, Hamas releases hostages. Joy is followed by horror at their condition. But above all, gratitude for their return remains profound.
Besides the Gaza war, the military conflict with Iran pushes the Jewish state to its limits in June. Terrorist attacks at home and abroad claim lives and dampen festive spirits. The economy recovers slowly. In science, it's not just archaeologists who are making their mark. While there are still boycott efforts in culture and sports, there are also successes.
War events
At the beginning of the year, the war against terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip was in full swing. Negotiations for a ceasefire were underway, which came into effect on January 19 and ended on March 17. Another ceasefire was in place on October 10. A "yellow line" divided the Gaza Strip into two areas; Hamas controlled the west, and the Israeli army the east. On October 13, the US, Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey signed a peace agreement for Gaza in Sharm el-Sheikh. Israel and the Palestinians were not represented at the summit.
Even more dangerous than Hamas's weapons are the Iranian missiles. On June 13, Israel launches a major offensive against the Islamist regime at night. With US support, the air force deals a severe blow to its nuclear program. The fragile ceasefire comes into effect on June 24. In the "Twelve-Day War," as US President Donald Trump later calls it, 30 people are killed in Israel.
Earlier, there was some good news: The only victim of the Iranian offensive of April 2024, the Bedouin girl Amina Alhasoni, is leaving rehabilitation after a year.
In Syria, the new regime under interim president Ahmed al-Shar'a is brutally cracking down on members of minority groups, including the Druze. Israel is providing them with military assistance.
terror
This year, too, terrorists are carrying out attacks on Israelis. In early January, a bus and two other vehicles were attacked in the West Bank. Three people died.
In May, a Palestinian man murdered Ze'ela Ges, an Israeli woman, in Samaria as she was on her way to the maternity ward. Her husband suffered minor injuries. Their son was delivered by emergency cesarean section and died two weeks after the attack.
In early September, two terrorists shot and killed six people at a bus stop in Jerusalem. Hamas called it a "heroic act".
But Israel also experiences salvation: On the evening of February 20, three empty buses explode in quick succession in Bat Yam. It appears to be an attempted coordinated attack. The alertness of a passenger and incorrectly set timers ensure that no one is injured. A few days later, the domestic intelligence agency, the Shibak, announces that it has thwarted an assassination attempt on soldiers through arrests. The attack was intended to involve a 100-kilogram mine.
Attacks abroad
Israelis and Jews are also subjected to attacks abroad. On May 21, two employees of the Israeli embassy, Jaron Lischinsky and Sarah Lynn Milgrim, were murdered in front of the Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C. The couple were scheduled to get engaged the following week in Jerusalem. The suspected shooter shouted "Free Palestine" and was charged with a hate crime in August.
In the US state of Colorado, an Egyptian man attacked demonstrators in the city of Boulder with Molotov cocktails. The demonstrators were demanding the release of hostages in the Gaza Strip. Thirteen people were injured. A month later, 82-year-old Holocaust survivor Karen Diamond died of her injuries. The suspect is on trial.
Two attacks on Jewish holidays evoke memories of October 7, 2023, when Hamas attacked Israel on the Day of Rejoicing in the Torah: On Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, a British man of Syrian origin opened fire on Jews outside a synagogue in the English city of Manchester. Israeli President Yitzhak Herzog wrote on the X platform: “This heinous act of terror against the Jewish community, against worshippers at prayer, on the holiest day of the year for Jews, is a crime that must be condemned by everyone.”
As the Hanukkah festival began on December 14, news of a terrorist attack in Australia shocked Jews in Israel and around the world: Two attackers, a father and son, opened fire on revelers on Bondi Beach in Sydney. There were 15 fatalities and numerous injuries.
Ahmed al Ahmed, a fruit vendor from Syria, became a hero. He wrested weapons from one of the attackers with his bare hands, suffering serious gunshot wounds in the process. At a memorial service a week after the attack, thousands of Jews on Bondi Beach applauded for minutes when the name of the Muslim man who prevented something even worse was called.
hostages
During the two-month ceasefire, Hamas released 33 hostages in degrading public ceremonies beginning in mid-January. Of those abducted, 25 survived. Among those released were two men who had been held captive for more than ten years: civilians Avera Mengistu and Hisham al-Zayed. In return, Israel released numerous Palestinian prisoners.
Particularly harrowing for all of Israel is the fate of the Bibas family: Father Jarden Bibas was released on February 1st – and no one knows what became of his wife, Shiri, and their young children, Ariel and Kfir. At the end of the month, Israel received three bodies – those of the sons and an unidentified Palestinian woman from Gaza. Following protests, Hamas provided the remains of the mother. The forensic examination revealed that the three had been brutally murdered with bare hands.
The former hostages recount torture and psychological terror in the tunnels of Gaza. Less than three weeks after his release, 53-year-old Eli Sharabi gives an interview to an Israeli television station. Upon his return, he learned that his wife and two daughters were murdered in the massacre at Kibbutz Be'eri. He openly describes his ordeal as a hostage – and expresses gratitude for seemingly basic necessities like a full refrigerator.
Sharabi advocates for those still held captive by terrorists. Later, he writes a book that becomes a bestseller in Israel. It has since been published in German under the title: "491 Days: In the Tunnels of Hamas".
On October 13, the last 20 surviving hostages were released – just before the festival of Simchat Torah, the Jewish anniversary of the terrorist massacre of October 7. Israel breathed a sigh of relief. Hamas, however, failed to fulfill its obligation to release all the dead by that date. But in the following weeks, they did release the bodies. Only police officer Ran Gvili remained missing in mid-December. Nearly 2,000 Palestinians, including many terrorists, were released from prison in exchange for the 20 surviving Israelis.
Several hostages and their relatives report that they gained a new connection to the Jewish faith or renewed strength from it after the kidnapping. Omer Shem-Tov wrote on Instagram after his release at the end of February: "Creator of the world, thank you for being with me every single moment." Matan Angrest, who was freed on October 13, asked Hamas for a Bible, prayer book, and phylacteries. The terrorists brought him the items, and he prayed three times a day. This helped him get through the terrible ordeal.
diplomacy
In Washington, Trump was inaugurated as president at the end of January. Relatives of Israeli hostages were also present at the ceremony. Trump and his team negotiated the deals—disproportionate, yet effective—that ultimately led to the release of all living hostages and the return of most of the bodies.
Other countries also show friendly relations with Israel: Hungary withdrew from the International Criminal Court to be able to receive Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu despite the arrest warrant against him. Argentine President Javier Milei, in turn, received the Genesis Prize for his friendship with the Jewish state. The Presidential Medal was awarded to Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama for his solidarity after the massacre of October 7th.
Israel opens embassies in Moldova and Estonia. In Zambia, a Jewish embassy has been reopened after more than 50 years. The Jewish state also makes diplomatic progress with Bolivia: following the election of Christian Democrat Rodrigo Paz Pereira as president, the Latin American country resumes relations. Kazakhstan, in turn, joins the Abraham Accords.
Another embassy is opening in Jerusalem: The Republic of Fiji is establishing its diplomatic mission, its seventh, in the Israeli capital. "Our presence here reflects our desire to build bridges – not walls – between nations, cultures, and peoples," said Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka at the inauguration.
Greek Ambassador Maya Solomou is sending an extraordinary message of solidarity: She is celebrating her country's national holiday at Kibbutz Be'eri, which was particularly hard hit by the terrorist attack on October 7th. "You will be able to dance again. And when you do, we will dance with you," the diplomat said at the celebration.
However, in September, five more countries recognized a "State of Palestine": Australia, France, Great Britain, Canada, and Portugal. Israeli opposition politician Benny Gantz criticized this move, writing in the "New York Times" that terrorist structures must first be dismantled and reforms implemented.
Spain, which recognized "Palestine" back in 2024, distinguishes itself with anti-Israel policies and rhetoric. In September, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez told a journalist: "As is well known, Spain has no nuclear weapons, no aircraft carriers, and no large oil reserves. We alone cannot stop the Israeli offensive."
German-Israeli relations
Diplomatic relations between Israel and Germany have existed for 60 years. From an Israeli perspective, this anniversary year is marked by the erratic course of the new black-red federal government, which succeeds the traffic light coalition.
On the one hand, Germany partially suspends arms deliveries to Israel in the midst of war (but acquires the Arrow 3 missile defense system itself). On the other hand, Chancellor Friedrich Merz defends Israel's attacks against targets in Iran and, at a press conference with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Istanbul, clearly identifies the terrorist massacre as the trigger for the Gaza war. Unlike other European leaders, he believes that the recognition of a Palestinian state will only be meaningful after negotiations.
Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, for his part, insists that Germany will not allow itself to be instrumentalized by Israel. Conversely, Israeli official Gideon Sa'ar, during a visit to Berlin, denounces the sharp rise in antisemitism. However, German politicians use their trips to Israel far more often to criticize the Jewish state—for example, regarding what they perceive as inadequate aid for Palestinians in the Gaza Strip—than vice versa. Voting patterns at the United Nations on anti-Israel resolutions have also improved only slightly.
The two heads of state, Yitzhak Herzog and Frank-Walter Steinmeier, will commemorate the anniversary of the official establishment of relations on May 12 in Berlin and Jerusalem. The German Federal President will receive the Israeli Presidential Medal. Berlin and Tel Aviv will formalize their city partnership.
Other anniversary events emphasize bilateral cooperation in science. Federal Education Minister Cem Özdemir praises the relations with Israel. Two renowned Israeli universities are celebrating anniversaries, and a celebratory event is being held in Hanover.
The Israeli president's medal of honor, however, is also being awarded to Matthias Döpfner, CEO of the media company Axel Springer. Herzog is thus honoring his friendship with the Jewish state. Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel will receive an honorary doctorate from the Weizmann Institute in Rehovot. The Central Council of Jews in Germany, in turn, is honoring activist Karoline Preisler with the Paul Spiegel Prize. Since October 7th, she has regularly attended pro-Palestinian demonstrations – and silently protested against anti-Israel slogans. She requires police protection for this.
Business
Despite the war, the Israeli economy is on the upswing. The US chip manufacturer Nvidia is strengthening its presence in the country. A new company campus is planned for Kiryat Tiv'on near Haifa, which will offer more than 10,000 jobs. Egypt is significantly increasing its imports of Israeli natural gas. Shortly before the end of the year, economic exchange with Greece and Cyprus, which had been hampered by the Gaza war, is also resuming.
The Jewish state's first commercial electric boat is being deployed on the Sea of Galilee. The Economist ranks Israel as the third-best economy of the year, behind Portugal and Ireland.
Science
Archaeological discoveries are commonplace in Israel. Nevertheless, some stand out. For example, a papyrus provides insight into a Roman criminal trial. A purple dye factory and a blade workshop shed light on production processes in ancient times. The discovery of several wicks made from recycled material demonstrates that sustainability was already a concern in antiquity.
A mysterious wall is yielding new insights into the Maccabean period. A discovered pendant bearing a menorah symbol challenges the notion that no Jews lived in Jerusalem during the Byzantine era. And a three-year-old girl proves that no one is too young for archaeology: she discovers an ancient scarab seal during a family outing.
A certain age is required to receive the Nobel Prize. This year, an Israeli and a Jordanian with roots in the Gaza Strip are among the honorees. The American-Israeli economist Joel Mokyr receives the award with two colleagues for their research on how innovation can lead to economic growth. Omar Yaghi, who grew up in Jordan and currently teaches in California, shares the prize with two other chemists. He is considered the "father of the field of metal-organic frameworks." His discovery has potential applications in industry.
culture
The trend of anti-Israel incidents continues in the cultural sector. At the Berlinale, anti-Israel slogans are met with applause.
The Palestinian-Norwegian film "No Other Land" won an Oscar for Best Documentary. Upon accepting the award, Palestinian director Basel Adra called on the world to "stop the ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian people." Israeli Yuval Abraham demanded an end to the "horrific destruction of the Gaza Strip" and the release of the hostages. The anti-Israel Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement, however, felt the film didn't go far enough: they criticized a "normalization with Israel" because Israelis were involved in the production – and deemed "No Other Land" worthy of a boycott.
As in the previous year, the Israeli Eurovision Song Contest entrant was greeted with boos. But Juval Raphael, a survivor of the Nova Festival massacre, performed bravely and finished in second place in Basel. She owed this success primarily to the votes of the audience.
The Gaza War sparked a debate about whether Israel should be excluded from the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna. The European Broadcasting Union decided against it, and host broadcaster ORF also spoke in favor of Israeli participation. As a result, five countries announced a boycott of the ESC. Swiss singer Nemo, who had brought the Song Contest to Basel with his victory in 2024, returned his trophy.
But there is also appreciation for Israeli artists. Musician Dan Pugach is awarded the Grammy in the category "Best Jazz Ensemble Album." In Bonn, pianist Amir Ron takes second place in the Telekom Beethoven Competition. And one Israeli star shines particularly brightly this year: actress Gal Gadot is immortalized on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
sport
Sport brings Israel successes, but also hostility. For example, pro-Palestinian protests against the "Israel Premier Tech" team prevented the Vuelta a España cycling race from reaching its intended goal – the final stage ended prematurely. As a result, the team decided to distance itself from its Israeli identity.
Indonesia, in turn, is refusing visas to Israeli athletes for the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Jakarta. As a result, Artem Dolgopyat cannot defend his title, which he won in the floor exercise on October 7, 2023. The International Olympic Committee is reacting to this unsportsmanlike conduct by suspending its cooperation with the Indonesian federation until athletes from all countries are guaranteed entry.
The women's ice hockey team celebrated a sporting success. With a 3-2 victory against Estonia, they won gold in their division, the lowest of three divisions, at the World Championship in Sarajevo. The Hapoel Tel Aviv basketball team won the Eurocup for the first time.
Israeli athletes won a total of 14 medals at the World Games in China. The athletes competed in non-Olympic disciplines.
For the first time in history, an Israeli athlete has brought home a medal from the Summer Deaflympics, the "Olympic Games for the Deaf": Pole vaulter Adam Norfaisov takes second place in Tokyo with a jump of 4.30 meters.
Israeli wheelchair tennis player Guy Sasson and his Dutch partner Niels Vink experience two major successes: They win the doubles title in both Paris and Wimbledon.
panorama
The winter of 2024/25 is the driest of the past hundred years. Only 40 percent of the average rainfall falls between December and February.
The drought is fueling wildfires. On the 77th Independence Day, of all days, they raged in the area around Jerusalem. The torchlight ceremony in the capital was canceled for safety reasons. Television broadcast a recording of the dress rehearsal. Planned celebrations in other parts of the country were also canceled due to the fire risk.
The new rainy season offers cause for hope. September already saw a record rainfall for that month. Later, there were several floods.
Other news: The Academy of the Hebrew Language named a butterfly after Ariel Bibas, the hostage murdered at the age of four. Israel's population surpassed 10 million for the first time. Despite war and terror, it enjoys one of the highest life expectancies in the world.
(Elisabeth Hausen | Israelnetz)
