Gaza Hostage Families Face Moment of Truth as Hamas Responds to Trump Peace Plan

Hope and trepidation grip families of Israeli hostages as Hamas delivers its response to a US-backed peace proposal, pushing negotiations towards a critical juncture. With talks expected to resume in Egypt, the prospect of a deal to free the remaining captives from Gaza has ignited cautious optimism, nearly two years after the harrowing October 7 attacks.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed overnight that Israel is ready to implement the first phase of what he termed “Trump’s plan” for the immediate release of all hostages. Following Hamas’s submission of its reply, former US President Donald Trump took to Truth Social, stating, “I believe they are ready for a lasting PEACE,” and urged Israel to “immediately stop the bombing of Gaza, so that we can get the Hostages out safely and quickly!”

Hamas reportedly agreed on Friday to release all remaining Israeli hostages, both living and deceased, but indicated a desire for further negotiations on specific elements of the US peace framework. This development has sparked emotional reactions among families, many of whom gathered in Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square on Saturday evening.

Viki Cohen, whose son Nimrod is among the estimated 20 hostages still alive, described waking up with a mix of “hope and expectation” tempered by “fear that something will go wrong.” The sentiment was echoed by Einav Zangauker, whose son Matan is held captive, passionately pleading with Netanyahu: “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, whose brothers Gali and Ziv remain in Gaza, underscored the urgency: “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, abducted from the Nova festival, directly appealed to Trump to ensure the deal’s enforcement, stating, “It’s been two years. The world is watching.”

As families voiced their desperate pleas, Prime Minister Netanyahu addressed the nation via television, expressing hope to announce the hostages’ release “in the coming days.” Relatives like Udi Goren, whose cousin Tal Haimi’s body remains in Gaza, conveyed optimism, noting President Trump’s apparent success in garnering support from both Arab nations and the Israeli leadership. The families’ collective message remains clear: after two agonizing years, the time for action is now, to bring their loved ones home and pave the way for a better future.

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