Hope and worry for hostage households after Hamas response to Gaza peace plan

[ad_1] Households of Israelis held hostage in Gaza have informed the BBC they're hopeful that US President Donald Trump's plan for ending the struggle will deliver their family members dwelling.

Viki Cohen, whose son Nimrod is amongst 20 hostages held in Gaza who're nonetheless believed to be alive, mentioned she had woken on Saturday with a way of "hope and expectation", but in addition "worry that one thing will go fallacious".

"It's a fragile scenario and we do not wish to be disillusioned once more. And but I really feel hope that quickly I'll see Nimrod and I can hug [him] once more."

Nimrod, now aged 21, was a 19-year-old soldier when he was kidnapped by Hamas close to the Gaza border within the 7 October 2023 assaults. In complete, 251 folks had been taken hostage that day, and a few 1,200 others had been killed.

On Friday, Hamas agreed to launch all of the remaining Israeli hostages - dwelling and lifeless - however mentioned it wished additional negotiations on plenty of key factors outlined within the US peace plan.

After Hamas submitted its response, Trump posted on Reality Social "I consider they're prepared for a long-lasting PEACE", as he known as on Israel to "instantly cease the bombing of Gaza, in order that we are able to get the Hostages out safely and rapidly!"

In a response in a single day, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu mentioned Israel was "making ready to right away implement the primary part of Trump's plan for the quick launch of all hostages".

Negotiations between Israel and Hamas at the moment are anticipated to renew in Egypt within the coming days.

On Saturday night, tens of hundreds of individuals gathered in Tel Aviv in assist of the deal to finish the struggle.

Crowds in Hostages Sq. broke out into chants of "you are not alone, we're with you" as households of the hostages took to the stage to name for his or her return.

"Netanyahu, do not take our oxygen and our hope," Einav Zangauker, whose son Matan is being held captive in Gaza, screamed into the microphone.

"To you they're simply hostages, however to me that is my boy. He is my life. The hostages are the beating coronary heart of the nation."

Liran Berman demanded the return of his brothers Gali and Ziv.

"With hope comes worry - will the deal be signed? Will I ever see my brothers once more?" he mentioned. "We can't let one other deal collapse. Not once more… it's now or by no means."

Former hostage Omer Shem Tov, who was kidnapped from the Nova pageant, led chants of "deliver them dwelling".

He appealed on to Trump to ensure his deal was enforced.

"Now we have to ensure this deal occurs. Now we have to ensure Hamas indicators it. It has been two years. The world is watching," he informed the cheering crowd.

Because the households and former hostages spoke to the group in Tel Aviv, Netanyahu gave a televised tackle to the nation, saying he hoped to announce the discharge of the hostages being held in Gaza "within the coming days".

Earlier on Saturday, Udi Goren, whose cousin Tal Haimi was killed within the 7 October assaults and his physique taken to Gaza the place it stays, mentioned he was optimistic {that a} deal can be reached.

"We're seeing President Trump placing his foot down and getting everyone behind him, together with the Arab international locations and the Israeli prime minister," he mentioned.

"We have to guarantee that there's a greater future for Israelis and Palestinians. Now could be the time for motion, not for phrases."

His views had been echoed by different hostage households.

In a press release, the household of Eitan Horn mentioned that for "the primary time in so many lengthy and painful months, our hearts dare to consider that the discharge of Eitan - and of all 47 hostages [living and dead] - might lastly be close to. That quickly, they are going to come dwelling".

However, they added: "Our hope is tempered by nice worry."

"Till they return, they continue to be starved, tortured and in fixed hazard of dying."

Gil Dickman informed the BBC he knew too effectively what it meant to overlook an opportunity for a ceasefire deal.

His cousin Carmel Gat was taken hostage from Kibbutz Be'eri and her physique recovered from a tunnel in Gaza virtually a yr later. The Israeli navy mentioned she and 5 different hostages had been killed shortly earlier than its troops reached them.

"What we noticed yesterday is that Hamas gave a solution - that they had some agreements with Trump's plan and a few disagreements, however the primary factor for me is that they are keen to undergo with this," he mentioned.

"We have had so many different possibilities earlier than that had been missed" however this can be a "very, essential stage within the course of… and perhaps will get us near getting this struggle over with".