Rami Amichai
TEL AVIV (Reuters) – A cease-fire in the Gaza Strip is nearing agreement, with families of 98 hostages still held in the enclave feeling hope, fear and despair as negotiators make a final push. In some cases, they are faced with a mixture of anger. Sign the contract.
A draft proposal shared by Qatari mediators with Israel and Hamas calls for the release of 33 children, women and elderly men, as well as wounded and sick hostages, in the first phase of an extended ceasefire. Israel believes most of the hostages on the list are alive, but there has been no confirmation from Hamas.
In return, hundreds of Palestinian prisoners of war will be freed and, if all goes well, negotiators will release remaining civilians and soldiers, as part of a series of measures to end the 15-month military operation. And they will start talking about releasing the bodies of the dead hostages. war.
“We can't let this moment pass. This is the last moment. We can save them,” Hadas Calderon said. Hadas Calderon's husband Ofer and children Sahar and Erez were abducted along with about 250 others when a Hamas-led armed group raided southern Israel on the 2nd. On October 7, 2023, 1,200 soldiers and civilians were killed in the deadliest attack on Israel in history.
Since then, Israel's Gaza operation has lasted more than a year, killing more than 46,000 Palestinian fighters and civilians and leaving the narrow coastal enclave devastated, but only a few have escaped or been liberated by the military. There are only a handful of hostages.
Both Sahar and Erez were released in the first hostage and prisoner exchange in November 2023, and Ofer, 54, is among those who could be released in the first phase of the new deal. be.
Hadas said the last time his children saw him was after 52 days in captivity.
“I know he's suffering,” she said. “I dream about it. I feel it in my body. I feel him suffering. I feel it every moment. I feel it in the drink I drink. , I feel guilty about the shower, the food, because I know they don't have it.”
Protesters in Tel Aviv have been holding weekly rallies to demand that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government agree to a deal for the hostages' return, with a deal appearing closer than ever.
However, after repeated disappointments, few people are willing to celebrate until their loved one returns. For others, the deal is a cruel deception, trapping husbands, sons and brothers in Gaza while negotiators begin new negotiations with Hamas prisoners.
“It doesn’t deserve to rot in Gaza.”
Ruby Chen, whose son Itai was killed in a Hamas attack and whose body is being held in Gaza, said: “The prime minister must bring about an agreement that includes all the hostages, including my son, American citizens, and Israeli heroes.'' ” he said. .
“He saved a lot of people. He doesn't deserve to rot in Gaza,” Chen said outside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office in Jerusalem, where he joined demonstrators calling on the prime minister to deliver a comprehensive deal. .
Earlier, demonstrators at the parliament shouted abuse at Defense Minister Israel Katz, who was attending a committee meeting, demanding the return of all hostages.
“You are selling the Selection Agreement here as a humanitarian agreement,” said representatives of Inbal Heyman, who was killed in Gaza. , using highly emotional language reminiscent of the Nazi Holocaust. Gas chamber.
“What kind of absolute victory is the prime minister talking about when we can't bury our daughter? What could be a greater humiliation for the nation?”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with representatives of some of the hostage families on Tuesday, but many remained uncertain about the prospects for the release of those stranded.
“I came into the meeting wanting to know that we were talking about the agreement of all the hostages, but I came out very worried that we weren't talking about the agreement of all the hostages,” said cousin Gil Dickman. spoke. Carmel Gat survived 11 months as a Hamas prisoner before being killed in a tunnel in Gaza.
“I didn't understand. Why don't we start phase two negotiations now and get it over with?” he said. “We call on President Trump and all other world leaders not to stop at the first step, which is to bring out all the hostages.”
