Agonizing Wait for Families of Israeli Hostages as Israel and Hamas Reach Agreement
An agonizing wait for families of Israeli hostages finally sees a glimmer of hope as Israel and Hamas strike a momentous deal A four-day humanitarian pause grants a chance for the release of over 50 Israeli women and children, bringing mixed emotions and fresh concerns
After enduring almost seven weeks of uncertainty regarding the fate of their family members who were kidnapped by Hamas, relatives of the hostages were left with a mix of hope and new worries following a breakthrough deal between Israel and the militant group on Tuesday. The agreement includes a four-day humanitarian pause to facilitate the release of at least 50 Israeli women and children.
One family informed CNN that they are facing an ominous week ahead as they await news on whether their loved ones will be among those released. "My family, along with all the other families, will have a difficult week. We are unsure if my cousin will be part of those released in this upcoming round," explained Maya Roman, the cousin of a female hostage.
Roman's cousin, 36-year-old Yarden Roman-Gat, handed her 3-year-old daughter to her husband on October 7, hoping he could run faster as they attempted to flee Hamas gunmen. Yarden's husband and child were able to escape, but Yarden herself has been missing ever since.
"It appears that we will have to wait each day to see who will be released the next day, and that is going to be extremely difficult," Roman added, mentioning that it is causing a lot of tension among the families.
Pictures of Hamas' hostages displayed during a demonstration in Tel Aviv, Israel.
Ahmad Gharabli/AFP/Getty Images
Israel and Hamas agree to breakthrough deal on hostage release and four-day truce
The government has not yet released the names of the hostages to be freed, but officials have confirmed that they will be Israeli nationals, some of whom hold dual citizenship. According to Israeli military reports, a total of 239 hostages, including foreign nationals from numerous countries, were taken by Hamas during the October 7 attack in Gaza.
Abigail Edan, a 3-year-old Israeli-American orphaned after her parents were killed by Hamas, is among those holding dual nationality. Liz Hirsh Naftali, Edan's great-aunt, spoke to CNN about the agonizing wait to learn if her great-niece will be coming home.
"Our family has spent the past seven weeks filled with worry, uncertainty, and hope," she said. The family is holding onto hope that Abigail will be among the first to be released.
Abigail, the youngest American hostage, has a 6-year-old sister and a 10-year-old brother who witnessed their parents being murdered on October 7, according to Naftali. They hid in a closet for 14 hours, she said.
"The one thing that we all cling to is the hope that Abigail will come home, and we're hoping for her to be back by Friday," she said. "Friday is her 4th birthday. Once we see Abigail coming out, then we can truly believe it."
Liz Hirsh Naftali, the great-aunt of Abigail Edan, a 3-year-old Israeli-American, says the family is holding onto hope she will be home for her 4th birthday on Friday.
CNN
The Hamas attack in Israel resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people. In response, Israel engaged in a conflict with the group in Gaza, resulting in the deaths of over 12,000 Palestinians, including an estimated 5,000 children. According to the Hamas-run government's press office, as part of the approved deal, Israel will release 150 Palestinian prisoners, all of whom are women and children. Additionally, hundreds of trucks carrying relief, medical supplies, and fuel will be allowed to enter the devastated area of Gaza.
Israeli prisons currently hold up to 83 Palestinian women and 380 children under the age of 18, with more than half of them having been detained since October, as reported by the Palestinian Prisoners Club, a non-governmental organization.
According to Qadura Fares, the head of the Palestinian Prisoners Club, there are 8,300 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails, 3,000 of whom are held in administrative detention without known charges or ongoing legal processes.
Photographs of some of those taken hostage by Hamas during their recent attacks are seen on October 18, 2023 in Tel Aviv, Israel.
Leon Neal/Getty Images
The truce may be extended beyond the initial four-day period, with an additional day added for every 10 hostages released. On Wednesday, the Israeli government released a list of 300 Palestinian prisoners and proposed a second phase of exchanging prisoners for hostages.
Anat Moshe Shoshany, whose grandmother was kidnapped from the Nir Oz kibbutz on the back of a moped, expressed her optimism upon hearing that the Israeli cabinet had sanctioned a deal for the release of several hostages held by Hamas. "Even if my grandmother isn't one of those released, though I hope she is, I'm eager to see the children and innocent people leaving after so many long days of waiting," she told CNN.
As the conflict stretches into its 47th day on Wednesday, families have adapted to practicing patience, she shared. "We have to guard against getting our hopes up and then being let down - but I truly hold onto the hope of seeing someone emerge from there. I believe it will instill hope in others."
Maya Roman, cousin of Yarden Roman-Gat, says she and her family kept faith in the Israeli government to make the return of hostages its priority.
CNN
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu now has some much-needed respite, as many in Israel point fingers at him for not predicting the October 7 attack and for the lack of success in freeing the hostages. Roman expressed her pride in the government and endorsed the deal as a positive development in an interview with CNN.
"We were hoping for our loved ones to start coming back, and now you can see that happening," she stated.
"The most important thing for us is to bring the hostages home. My family and I have held onto hope all this time, trusting that our government was prioritizing the hostages."
CNNs John Berman, Manveena Suri, Abby Philip, Pamela Brown, Lauren Izso, Amir Tal, Richard Allen Greene contributed to this report.
