Families of Israelis held hostage in Gaza have expressed their hope that US President Donald Trump's plan for ending the war will facilitate the safe return of their loved ones. Viki Cohen, whose son Nimrod is one of the 20 hostages still believed to be alive, shared her mixed emotions: “I woke up on Saturday with a sense of hope and expectation, but also fear that something will go wrong. It is a fragile situation, and we don't want to be disappointed again. Yet, I feel hope that soon I will see Nimrod and I can hug him again.”
Nimrod, now 21, was just 19 years old when he was kidnapped by Hamas during the attacks near the Gaza border on October 7, 2023. On that tragic day, a total of 251 individuals were taken hostage, while approximately 1,200 others lost their lives. Recently, Hamas has indicated a willingness to release all remaining Israeli hostages, both living and deceased, but has called for further negotiations regarding critical points outlined in the US peace plan.
In response to Hamas's submission regarding the negotiations, President Trump took to Truth Social, stating, “I believe they are ready for a lasting PEACE,” while urging Israel to halt its bombing of Gaza to ensure the safe and prompt release of the hostages. Following this, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that Israel is preparing to implement the first phase of Trump's plan for the immediate release of all hostages. Negotiations between Israel and Hamas are expected to resume in Egypt in the coming days.
On Saturday evening, tens of thousands gathered in Tel Aviv to support the deal aimed at ending the war. In Hostages Square, attendees chanted “you're not alone, we're with you” as families of the hostages shared their personal stories and called for their loved ones' return. Einav Zangauker, whose son Matan is among those held captive, passionately addressed the crowd, “Netanyahu, don't take our oxygen and our hope. To you, they're just hostages, but to me, that's my boy. He's my life. The hostages are the beating heart of the country.”
Liran Berman also expressed his anxiety over the situation, demanding the return of his brothers Gali and Ziv: “With hope comes fear - will the deal be signed? Will I ever see my brothers again? We cannot let another deal collapse. Not again… it is now or never.”
Former hostage Omer Shem Tov, who was abducted from the Nova festival, led the crowd in chants of “bring them home.” He made a direct appeal to President Trump, urging him to ensure that the deal is enforced: “We have to make sure this deal happens. We have to make sure Hamas signs it. It's been two years. The world is watching,” he stated, rallying the crowd with his impassioned words.
Udi Goren, whose cousin Tal Haimi was killed in the October 7 attacks and whose body remains in Gaza, expressed optimism about the potential for a deal. “We're seeing President Trump putting his foot down and getting everybody behind him, including the Arab countries and the Israeli prime minister. We need to ensure there's a better future for Israelis and Palestinians. Now is the time for action, not for words,” he remarked.
The family of Eitan Horn echoed this sentiment, stating, “For the first time in so many long and painful months, our hearts dare to believe that the release of Eitan—and of all 47 hostages living and dead—may finally be near. That soon, they will come home.” However, they tempered their optimism with a note of caution, emphasizing the ongoing peril faced by the hostages: “Our hope is tempered by great fear. Until they return, they remain starved, tortured, and in constant danger of death.”
Gil Dickman, who understands the heavy toll of missed opportunities for ceasefire deals, shared his concerns. His cousin, Carmel Gat, was taken hostage from Kibbutz Be'eri, and her body was recovered nearly a year later. “What we saw yesterday is that Hamas gave an answer—they had some agreements with Trump's plan and some disagreements, but the main thing for me is that they're willing to go through with this,” he explained. “We've had so many other chances before that were missed, but this is a very important stage in the process… and maybe it brings us closer to ending this war.”
