Families of Israelis held hostage in Gaza have told the BBC they are hopeful that US President Donald Trump's plan for ending the war will bring their loved ones home.
Viki Cohen, whose son Nimrod is among 20 hostages held in Gaza who are still believed to be alive, said she had woken on Saturday with a sense of hope and expectation, but also fear that something will go wrong.
It is a fragile situation and we don't want to be disappointed again. And yet I feel hope that soon I will see Nimrod and I can hug [him] again.
Nimrod, now aged 21, was a 19-year-old soldier when he was kidnapped by Hamas near the Gaza border in the 7 October 2023 attacks. 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 it wanted further negotiations on a number of key points outlined in the US peace plan.
After Hamas submitted its response, Trump posted on Truth Social I believe they are ready for a lasting PEACE, as he called on Israel to immediately stop the bombing of Gaza, so that we can get the Hostages out safely and quickly!
In a response overnight, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said 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 are now expected to resume in Egypt in the coming days.
On Saturday evening, tens of thousands of people gathered in Tel Aviv in support of the deal to end the war. Crowds in Hostages Square broke out into chants of you're not alone, we're with you as families of the hostages took to the stage to call for their return.
Former hostage Omer Shem Tov led chants of bring them home and appealed directly to Trump to make sure his deal was enforced. We have to make sure this deal happens. We have to make sure Hamas signs it. It's been two years. The world is watching, he told the cheering crowd.
As families and former hostages spoke to the crowd in Tel Aviv, Netanyahu gave a televised address to the nation, expressing hope to announce the release of the hostages being held in Gaza in the coming days.
However, families remain cautious, expressing that their hope is tempered by great fear, as previous opportunities for ceasefire deals have been lost.
Viki Cohen, whose son Nimrod is among 20 hostages held in Gaza who are still believed to be alive, said she had woken on Saturday with a sense of hope and expectation, but also fear that something will go wrong.
It is a fragile situation and we don't want to be disappointed again. And yet I feel hope that soon I will see Nimrod and I can hug [him] again.
Nimrod, now aged 21, was a 19-year-old soldier when he was kidnapped by Hamas near the Gaza border in the 7 October 2023 attacks. 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 it wanted further negotiations on a number of key points outlined in the US peace plan.
After Hamas submitted its response, Trump posted on Truth Social I believe they are ready for a lasting PEACE, as he called on Israel to immediately stop the bombing of Gaza, so that we can get the Hostages out safely and quickly!
In a response overnight, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said 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 are now expected to resume in Egypt in the coming days.
On Saturday evening, tens of thousands of people gathered in Tel Aviv in support of the deal to end the war. Crowds in Hostages Square broke out into chants of you're not alone, we're with you as families of the hostages took to the stage to call for their return.
Former hostage Omer Shem Tov led chants of bring them home and appealed directly to Trump to make sure his deal was enforced. We have to make sure this deal happens. We have to make sure Hamas signs it. It's been two years. The world is watching, he told the cheering crowd.
As families and former hostages spoke to the crowd in Tel Aviv, Netanyahu gave a televised address to the nation, expressing hope to announce the release of the hostages being held in Gaza in the coming days.
However, families remain cautious, expressing that their hope is tempered by great fear, as previous opportunities for ceasefire deals have been lost.
