Since the October 7 massacre, hundreds of Israelis were taken hostage by Hamas and were held captive in the Gaza Strip. While many of the hostages have either been freed, rescued, or killed, many still remain in captivity. The hostage deal is the hypothetical agreement between Israel and Hamas that would see the hostages, living and dead, released from captivity back to Israel.
In an interview with Maariv, Yoni Levy, father of freed captive Naama Levy said his daughter is "angry and has many questions. There is a guillotine over the necks of those still held hostage."
After nearly 500 days, the Ohel family received the first sign of life from their son, but the harrowing descriptions of his condition raise fears that time is running out.
The Thai national who returned from captivity with broken teeth underwent rehabilitation at the Shamir Medical Center in Be'er Yaakov.
Hamas’s latest step back from the hostage deal will come at a heavy price. Israel, backed by strong US support, will not hesitate to respond with overwhelming force.
Hamas confirmed its commitment to the continuation of the hostage-ceasefire deal in a statement on Telegram.
"Among them, six Americans. Six Americans that need to come home," father of deceased American hostage Omer Neutra said. "All the hostages need to come home."
In a letter addressed to Trump on Wednesday, they stressed the urgent humanitarian and moral imperative of freeing the hostages.
“We received a sign of life from the returned hostages. He seems to be injured and is being held under difficult conditions,” Hagai Engerst, told Walla.
Egyptian media reported that Qatar and Egypt will make greater efforts to ensure the ceasefire deal reaches completion amidst talks in Cairo.
The signs of life over the past few days have shown that, without a doubt, there are many living hostages in Gaza who can be saved and who are waiting to be saved.
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