Hamas has been holding two mentally ill Israeli hostages in Gaza for nearly a decade, with Israeli society paying very little attention to their plight. The October 7 terrorist attacks changed that.

As Hamas prepares to release a first group of hostages held for more than six weeks in Gaza, it's worth remembering that Israelis have been held hostage many times over the nation's 75-year history. In October 2011, Franco-Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit was freed by Hamas after being held in captivity for more than five years. He'd been captured during a cross-border raid. In Perspective, we spoke to the man who played a key role in negotiating his release.

It's been one month since Hamas's attack on Israel and an estimated 240 people – Israelis, dual nationals and foreigners – are still being held hostage in the Gaza Strip. Israeli security forces are trying to locate them and bring them back safely. This search effort is mobilising Israeli special forces, but also civilian volunteers, as our Science and Tech editor Julia Sieger explains.

We take a look at press reaction to two more hostages being released by Hamas, as well as the US and EU disagreeing on the need for a ceasefire. Also, the Washington Post has a long read on the spread of malaria. Finally, thousands of Icelandic women, including PM Katrín Jakobsdóttir, stage a walkout in protest against gender inequality in the country.

International outcry is mounting as Hamas keeps some 200 civilians and soldiers hostage. While details have remained murky, recent statements shed light on the militant group's aims.