Families of Israeli hostages held in Gaza gathered in a Tel Aviv square on Wednesday, where they have been rallying for over a year. They received news about an agreement with Hamas to stop the fighting in Gaza and bring the hostages back home. Following more than 15 months in captivity, the first batch of 33 hostages is set to return to Israel starting this Sunday, with negotiations for the release of the remaining 65 hostages scheduled to begin roughly two weeks later. The initial group includes children, women, men over 50, as well as the wounded and sick, who will be released gradually over the next six weeks. However, uncertainty lingers over who on the list is alive or deceased.
The group Bring Them Home, representing the families of the hostages, expressed “overwhelming joy and relief” at the agreement, though many feel drained and uncertain as they await news about their loved ones. Yosi Shnaider, a relative of Shiri Bibas and her family who were taken during an attack by Hamas, described the emotional turmoil of not knowing the fate of their family members. The prolonged timeline for the hostages’ return in small groups has added to the families’ distress.
Amidst ongoing negotiations and international pressure, an agreement was reached with Hamas, potentially bringing an end to the conflict. The deal is expected to be approved by the Israeli cabinet, with Foreign Minister Gideon Saar returning from Europe for a vote. Israeli President Isaac Herzog emphasized the moral imperative of bringing back the hostages, a sentiment echoed by many Israelis who support ending the conflict and bringing their fellow citizens home.
The war in Gaza has taken a heavy toll, with casualties on both sides and widespread devastation. The upcoming return of the hostages brings hope and relief after a long and anxious wait for their families.
“I’m so excited,” said 18-year-old Ariella Cohen as she sat with friends in a Jerusalem café. However, the deal has also stirred strong opposition from hardline nationalist members of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, as well as from some of the hostage families themselves.
Hardliners argue that the deal could compromise Israeli security in the long term. Meanwhile, relatives of male hostages, including serving soldiers and men of military age, express concerns that their loved ones may never be returned due to the complexities of negotiating with Hamas, which remains in Gaza despite significant losses of fighters and top leaders.
“This is not an agreement, this is just hell,” lamented Daniel Algarat, whose brother Itzhak Elgarat, 69, was taken from Nir Oz kibbutz on Oct. 7. “Trump promised us hell and we are in hell,” he continued. “The government does not have the authority to bring back only some of them; they must bring back all of them.”
“My brother is set to return in the initial stage, but we are uncertain about his condition. We do not know if he is alive; we are completely in the dark,” Algarat expressed.
(Writing by James Mackenzie; Editing by Howard Goller)
