Tel Aviv – Israeli negotiators An agreement has been reached for a hostage ceasefire deal with the Hamas terrorist group that reportedly included the release of thousands of Palestinian security prisoners; Many of them have blood on their hands, and the withdrawal of the Israeli army from key areas of the Gaza Strip.
“I’m trying to breathe,” Efrat Machikawa, niece of Israeli captive Gadi Musa, told Fox News Digital in response to the development.
“We won’t know for sure if this is really happening until we get the phone call to see Goody at the hospital. Although I’m an optimist by nature, I try to control myself. doing because we were so close to so many agreements the last time my aunt Margalit was released,” said Machikawa.
Israel-Hamas cease-fire, release of hostages agreement reached
Photographs of the loved ones of two London-based British Israelis whose parents have been held hostage by Hamas are shown during a press conference by Defend Israel Democracy UK at the Plaza Westminster Bridge Hotel in London. Gaza. (Lucy North/PA Images via Getty Images/File)
In November 2023, a week-long ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas freed 105 hostages from Gaza.
Palestinian terrorists are still holding 98 hostages in Gaza, 94 of whom were kidnapped during the massacre on October 7, 2023. Thirty-six of the hostages have been confirmed dead.
“I am disappointed that this agreement does not address all hostages. It is unacceptable that the second phase is not defined in a way that shows when my son will be released from captivity. ” said Robbie Chen, the father of the American Israeli. IDF Sergeant Aye Chentold Fox News Digital.
Chen visited Qatar last week to meet with US negotiators.
He said that we will continue fighting until all the hostages come out. “With President-elect Trump’s inauguration next week, I hope he says in his speech, ‘Mr. Chen, I am able to bring your son back.’
From left, American hostages in Gaza: Aidan Alexander, Sagui Dekel-Chen, Keith Siegel, Omar Neutra, Jody Weinstein Hagai, Gadi Hagai and Ete Chen (son of Ruby Chen) (Fox News)
“My focus is on the second step when my son will be released,” Yehuda Cohen, the father of IDF soldier Nimrod Cohen who was kidnapped by Hamas terrorists near Kibbutz Nirim on October 7, 2023, told Fox News Digital. told
“He is the youngest and one of three surviving soldiers captured in uniform. I assume he will be one of the last to be released,” Cohen continued. “At this point he must have been incarcerated for about a year and a half, and I don’t know what state he is in physically or mentally. Our private fight to bring him back to normal life will begin soon.”
US hostage Keith Segal’s wife pleads for holiday miracle: ‘We need to bring them back’
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with US Ambassador to the Middle East Steve Witkoff. (Media Advisor to Prime Minister)
Progress in Negotiations have been stalled for a long time America came after Middle East Envoy, Steve WittkoffMet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the weekend in Jerusalem. According to local media, the two had a “tense” meeting, with Witkoff demanding significant concessions.
Trump warned on Monday that there would be consequences for failure to reach an agreement.
He said that if they can’t do this, there will be a lot of trouble like they’ve never seen before.
During the Hamas terror attack 467 days ago, the Bebas family, including mother Sheri, husband Yarden and their children, 4-year-old Ariel and 9-month-old Infidels included, were taken from Kibbutz Nir Oz by Hamas terrorists.
Relatives and friends of people killed or kidnapped by Hamas and taken to Gaza react to the ceasefire announcement as they take part in a demonstration in Tel Aviv, Israel, Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025. are taking (AP Photo/Ohad Zweigenberg)
“We hope that they will come back alive and we can get them treated, so that we can do the best for them. But we don’t know in what condition they will come back. We are very scared.” Jimmy Miller, Sheri Bibas’ cousin, told Fox News Digital.
“I hope for the best, but I don’t want to be disappointed if something bad happens. I try not to think too much about it before it actually happens. We thought it would happen first. Saturday belongs to Kfir. [second] Maybe it’s a birthday he can celebrate with us a few days later,” he added.
A woman holds a poster of Israeli hostage Omar Neutra during a memorial vigil for those killed in the October 7, 2023 attack by Hamas in Israel on November 1, 2023 in New York City. (ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images)
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“We, the families of the 98 hostages, welcome the agreement to bring our loved ones home with great joy and relief,” the headquarters of the Forum for Hostages and Missing Families released a statement. Sincerely, we want to thank both the administration and international mediators for making this possible, since November 2023, and now, the Hamas tunnels. After more than 460 days away from our family members, we are closer than ever to being reunited with our loved ones.
“This is an important step that brings us closer to the return of all hostages – to repatriation alive, and to a proper burial for the dead,” the statement continued. “However, we remain deeply concerned and apprehensive about the possibility of the agreement not being fully implemented, leaving the hostages behind. We urgently call for urgent measures to ensure that the agreement is fully implemented. All steps should be carried out.”
“We will not rest until we see the last hostage back home.”