2 weeks ago
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TEL AVIV — Israeli negotiators have reached agreement with the Hamas panic radical for a hostages-for-cease-fire woody that volition besides reportedly spot the merchandise of thousands of Palestinian information prisoners, galore with humor connected their hands, and an Israeli subject withdrawal from cardinal areas of the Gaza Strip.
"I americium trying to breathe," Efrat Machikawa, the niece of Israeli captive Gadi Moses, told Fox News Digital in effect to the development.
"We volition not cognize for definite that it is truly happening until we volition get the telephone telephone to travel spot Gadi astatine the hospital. Although I americium optimistic by nature, I americium trying to power myself due to the fact that we were precise adjacent to truthful galore deals since the past 1 erstwhile my aunt Margalit was released," Machikawa said.
ISRAEL-HAMAS CEASE-FIRE, HOSTAGE RELEASE DEAL REACHED
In November 2023, a weeklong Israel-Hamas cease-fire statement saw 105 hostages freed from Gaza.
Palestinian terrorists are inactive holding 98 hostages successful Gaza, 94 of whom were abducted during the Oct. 7, 2023, massacre. Thirty-six of the hostages person been confirmed dead.
"I americium disappointed that this statement does not speech astir each the hostages. It is unacceptable that the 2nd signifier is not defined successful a mode that shows erstwhile my lad volition beryllium released from captivity," Ruby Chen, the begetter of American-Israeli IDF Sgt. Itay Chen, told Fox News Digital.
Chen visited Qatar past week to conscionable with U.S. negotiators.
"We volition proceed the combat until each the hostages travel out," helium said. "With the inauguration of President-elect Trump adjacent week, my anticipation is that successful his code helium volition say, ‘Mr. Chen, I americium capable to get your lad back.’"
"My absorption is connected the 2nd signifier erstwhile my lad volition beryllium released," Yehuda Cohen, the begetter of IDF worker Nimrod Cohen who was kidnapped by Hamas terrorists adjacent Kibbutz Nirim connected Oct. 7, 2023, told Fox News Digital.
"He is 1 of the youngest and 1 of 3 surviving soldiers who were captured successful uniform. I presume helium volition beryllium 1 of the past to beryllium released," Cohen continued. "He would person been successful captivity for astir a twelvemonth and a fractional then, and I don’t cognize what information helium is successful physically oregon mentally. Our backstage combat to get him backmost to mean beingness volition soon start."
WIFE OF US HOSTAGE KEITH SIEGEL PLEADS FOR HOLIDAY MIRACLE: 'WE NEED TO GET THEM BACK'
The breakthrough in long-stalled negotiations came aft the U.S. Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu implicit the play successful Jerusalem. The 2 held a "tense" meeting, according to section media, with Witkoff having demanded important concessions.
Trump warned connected Monday that the nonaccomplishment to scope an statement would person consequences.
"If they don’t get it done, there’s going to beryllium a batch of occupation retired determination similar they person ne'er seen before," helium stated.
During Hamas’s panic penetration 467 days ago, the Bibas family, including parent Shiri, hubby Yarden and their children, Ariel, 4, and 9-month-old babe Kfir, were taken by Hamas terrorists from Kibbutz Nir Oz.
"We anticipation they’ll travel backmost live and we tin get them treated, to bash the champion for them to readjust. But we don’t cognize successful what concern they volition return. We are precise afraid," Jimmy Miller, Shiri Bibas’s cousin, told Fox News Digital.
"I anticipation for the best, but I don’t privation to beryllium disappointed if thing atrocious happens. I effort not to deliberation astir it excessively overmuch earlier it truly happens. We thought it would hap before. Saturday is Kfir’s [second] birthday. Maybe helium tin observe it with america adjacent a fewer days later," helium added.
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum Headquarters issued a statement, "We, the families of 98 hostages, invited with overwhelming joyousness and alleviation the statement to bring our loved ones home. We privation to explicit our profound gratitude to President-elect Trump, President Biden, some administrations, and the planetary mediators for making this possible. Since November 2023, we person been anxiously awaiting this moment, and now, aft implicit 460 days of our household members being held successful Hamas tunnels, we are person than ever to reuniting with our loved ones.
"This is simply a important measurement guardant that brings america person to seeing each hostages instrumentality - the surviving to rehabilitation, and the deceased for due burial," the connection continues. "However, heavy anxiousness and concerns travel america regarding the anticipation that the statement mightiness not beryllium afloat implemented, leaving hostages behind. We urgently telephone for swift arrangements to guarantee each phases of the woody are carried out."
"We volition not remainder until we spot the past hostage backmost home."
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