Jonathan Dekel-Chen is experiencing mixed feelings of joy and grief as his son, Sagui, has been released as part of a cease-fire deal with Hamas after being held captive for over 500 days. Some of his neighbors have been returned in coffins, and the torments endured by the remaining hostages are a constant reminder of the ordeal. The Bibas family, including young children, came to symbolize the plight of the captives after videos of them being taken to Gaza went viral. Unfortunately, one of the coffins returned did not match the identity of any of the hostages, causing further distress.
Oded Lifshitz, a retired journalist and activist for a two-state solution, was killed while in captivity by Palestinian Islamic Jihad. His wife, Yocheved, was released earlier for health reasons and has described the abuse and harrowing conditions endured by the hostages. A rally was held to honor the hostages and to pressure the Israeli government to secure the release of those still being held. The first phase of the agreement between Israel and Hamas is set to end in two weeks, leaving the fates of dozens of captives uncertain.
Concerns among relatives of the hostages arise due to delays in negotiations on the second phase of the cease-fire deal. Yael Adar, who lost her son Tamir in the attack and whose body has not been returned, spoke at a rally, expressing her son’s confusion over the stages of body returns. Despite the plan for the release of hostages and bodies, there is anxiety about the uncertainties that lie ahead, especially with the failure to return Ms. Bibas causing new doubts about the next release.
Former captives emphasize the urgency of bringing back the remaining hostages as negotiations for the second phase of the cease-fire deal continue. Keith Siegel, who was held for nearly 500 days, shared his harrowing experience of being beaten, starved, and reduced to nothing during his captivity. His wife, Aviva, expressed the urgent need to bring back the remaining hostages, warning that others may not survive if changes are not made swiftly. Other freed captives, like Iair Horn, plead for the release of their family members still held captive, stressing the immediate need to bring them back.
The fragile truce between Israel and Hamas has led to the release of some hostages from Gaza in exchange for Palestinian prisoners but concerns remain regarding the fate of those still held captive. Relatives of the hostages and former captives caution against letting the cease-fire agreement fall apart as it would pose great dangers to the captives. A rally marking the 500th day of captivity highlighted the urgency of initiating the second phase of the agreement to secure the release of all hostages. The pressure is on the Israeli government to ensure the safe return of those still in captivity.
