Hope and fear for hostage families after Hamas’ response to the Gaza Peace Plan

Families of Israelis held the hostage in Gaza told the BBC that they hoped that the plan of American president Donald Trump to end the war would bring their loved ones to the house.

Vicky Cohen, whose son Nimrod is one of the 20 hostages held in Gaza who are still considered alive, said that she woke up on Saturday with a feeling of “hope and waiting”, but also “fearing that something would go wrong”.

“It is a fragile situation and we do not want to be disappointed again. And yet I hope that soon I will see Nimrod and I will be able to hug the (him).”

Nimrod, now aged 21, was a 19-year-old soldier when he was kidnapped by Hamas near the Gaza border in the attacks of October 7, 2023. In total, 251 people were taken hostage that day and some 1,200 others were killed.

On Friday, Hamas agreed to release all the remaining Israeli hostages – living and dead – but said that it wanted other negotiations on a certain number of key points described in the American peace plan.

After Hamas submitted his answer, Trump posted on Truth Social “I think they are ready for lasting peace”, when he called Israel to “immediately stop the bombardment of Gaza, so that we can take out the hostages safely and quickly!”

In a response of the day the next day, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel “was preparing to immediately implement the first phase of Trump’s plan for the immediate release of all hostages.”

Negotiations between Israel and Hamas should now resume in Egypt in the coming days.

Udi Goren, whose cousin Tal Haimi was killed during the October 7 attacks and his body led to Gaza where he remains, said that it was optimistic that an agreement would be concluded.

“We see President Trump lowering his foot and putting everyone behind him, including the Arab countries and the Israeli Prime Minister,” he said.

“We must make sure that there is a better future for Israelis and Palestinians. It is now time of action, not for words.”

His opinions were taken up by other hostage families on Saturday.

In a statement, the hostage family Eitan Horn said that “for the first time in as long as long and painful months, our hearts dare to believe that the liberation of Eitan – and out of the 47 hostages (alive and dead) – could finally be close. That soon, they will come home”.

But, they added: “Our hope is tempered by a great fear.”

“Until their return, they remain hungry, tortured and in constant danger of death.”

Gil Dickman told the BBC that he knew too well what it meant to miss a chance for a cease-fire contract.

His cousin Carmel Gat was taken hostage from Kibbutz Be’eri and his body recovered in a tunnel in Gaza almost a year later. The Israeli army said that she and five other hostages were killed shortly before her troops reached them.

“What we saw yesterday is that Hamas gave an answer-they had agreements with Trump’s plan and disagreements, but the main thing for me is that they are ready to undergo this,” he said.

“We have had so much other chances before” but it is a “very, very important step in the process … and perhaps bring us closer to this war”.