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(NewsNation) — With the archetypal signifier of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal expected to statesman Sunday, the families of hostages are hoping to erstwhile again spot their loved ones successful beforehand of them.
Israel and Hamas person agreed to a ceasefire woody that could spot the archetypal merchandise of American hostages wrong days, arsenic portion of a broader statement to free 33 captives during a 42-day pause successful fighting.
The deal, which awaits support from Israel's information Cabinet successful a Thursday vote, would see the merchandise of 2 Americans — Keith Siegel and Sagui Dekel-Chen — successful its archetypal phase, according to a elder medication official.
Of the 7 Americans believed held by Hamas, lone 3 are presumed alive. The third, 21-year-old American-Israeli Edan Alexander, a erstwhile IDF soldier, would beryllium portion of a 2nd signifier of releases.
In exchange, Israel would merchandise hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, pursuing a signifier seen successful erstwhile hostage negotiations.
Phase 3 calls for the instrumentality of the bodies of remaining hostages and the commencement of a large reconstruction of Gaza, which is mostly devastated and faces decades of rebuilding.
After 466 days successful captivity, it remains unclear however galore of the astir 100 hostages inactive held by Hamas are alive. Officials estimation much than a 3rd of each hostages taken during the Oct. 7 onslaught person died.
For families of the hostages, the hold continues. While immoderate whitethorn soon reunite with their loved ones, others look the grim anticipation of receiving confirmation of deaths during captivity.
Hostage Sagui Dekel-Chen to beryllium released successful ceasefire archetypal phase
Jonathan Dekel-Chen joins NewsNation to sermon the upcoming ceasefire successful Gaza, aimed astatine clearing the mode for dozens of hostages to beryllium released. His 36-year-old son, Sagui Dekel-Chen, an American citizen, was taken hostage by Hamas connected Oct. 7 and is believed to inactive beryllium alive. Dekel-Chen, on with different families of hostages, has been actively advocating for their loved ones’ harmless return.
Edan Alexander, left, is pictured with his begetter Adi. Hamas kidnapped Alexander during the ongoing warfare successful Gaza and remains successful captivity.
Released hostage Ilana Gritzewsky poses for a representation successful her flat successful Kiryat Gat, Israel, connected Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, adjacent photos of her boyfriend, Matan Zangauker, who is being held hostage by Hamas successful the Gaza Strip. (AP Photo/Tsafrir Abayov)
This undated photograph provided by the Hostages Families Forum Headquarters shows Omer Neutra. (Hostages Families Forum Headquarters via AP)
TOPSHOT - Ronen (L) and Orna Neutra, parents of Omer Neutra, airs for a photograph successful New York City connected November 6, 2023. The parents of Omer Neutra, a dual nationality US-Israeli worker who is 1 of immoderate 240 hostages seized by Hamas successful its onslaught from Gaza, are counting connected President Biden to get him back. They person had nary connection astir him whatsoever successful the period since their nightmare, and that of the different hostage families, began connected October 7. Biden, who has pledged coagulated enactment for Israel successful its warfare against Hamas, showed compassion arsenic helium spoke to the families for much than an hr and said helium is determined to unafraid the merchandise of the hostages, Ronen Neutra said. (Photo by TIMOTHY A. CLARY / AFP) (Photo by TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP via Getty Images)
FILE - Ruby Chen holds a poster of his son, Itay Chen, during a protestation adjacent Israel's parliament successful Jerusalem, connected March 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg, File)
Judith Raanan, an American who was 1 of the archetypal hostages released by Hamas, connected "Elizabeth Vargas Reports."
TEL AVIV, ISRAEL - OCTOBER 7: Families and supporters of hostages kidnapped during Oct 7 deadly Hamas onslaught clasp up photos of hostages arsenic the ongoing struggle successful Gaza betwixt Israel and Hamas marks 1 twelvemonth connected October 7, 2024 successful Tel Aviv, Israel. Various commemorations are taking spot astir Israel to people the day of the Hamas attacks successful Israel. On October 7, 2023, members of Hamas mounted a bid of attacks and raids connected Israeli citizens successful the Gaza Envelope borderline country of Israel. 251 Israelis and foreigners were kidnapped with astir 100 inactive unaccounted for and 1139 radical were killed. (Photo by Amir Levy/Getty Images)
This operation of six undated photos shows hostages, from apical left, Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Ori Danino, Eden Yerushalmi, from bottommost left, Almog Sarusi, Alexander Lobanov, and Carmel Gat, who were held hostage by Hamas militants successful Gaza. On Sunday, Sept. 1, 2024, the Hostages Families Forum announced their deaths portion successful Hamas captivity. (The Hostages Families Forum via AP)
Jonathan Dekel-Chen revealed his lad Sagui, held captive since Oct. 7, whitethorn not adjacent cognize helium has a caller daughter, calved 2 months aft his capture.
"I simply bash not cognize if Sagui adjacent knows that his household survived the massacre," Dekel-Chen said Wednesday connected NewsNation's "Elizabeth Vargas Reports." His 36-year-old lad is among those expected to beryllium freed successful the archetypal signifier of releases.
"I volition consciousness joyousness erstwhile Sagui is capable to clasp his small girls," Dekel-Chen said.
The past confirmed impervious of beingness for Sagui came implicit a twelvemonth ago, erstwhile released hostages reported concisely encountering him wounded but live successful Hamas tunnels beneath Gaza.
"When helium does look from that ambulance, we volition clasp him successful each meanings of the connection and assistance him successful each ways indispensable to rebuild his life," Dekel-Chen said portion tempering his optimism astir his son's information aft 466 days successful captivity.
While grateful for his son's expected release, Dekel-Chen said that galore hostages stay successful what helium called "hell holes" nether Gaza, including 29 from his ain Kibbutz Nir Oz. Some of those captives, helium learned, were subsequently killed by Hamas.
"We cannot permission a azygous hostage behind," helium said.
Omer Neutra's parents anticipation for a 'proper burial'
The parents of a deceased American hostage called the ceasefire "a woody with the devil" portion supporting the indispensable compromise to bring location the remaining captives.
"This is not a bully deal," said Ronen Neutra, whose 21-year-old lad Omer was confirmed dormant aft 422 days successful captivity. "But connected October 7, 2023, they took 250 radical retired of their beds… and unfortunately, we person to bash a woody with the devil."
Omer Neutra, a archetypal responder who rushed to support Israeli villages during the October attacks, was among the 98 hostages inactive successful Gaza. His parents learned of his decease past period aft advocating for his merchandise astatine the Republican National Convention and successful meetings with President Joe Biden.
His mother, Orna Neutra, described "mixed emotions" astir the agreement. While supporting the deal, the Neutras present combat for a antithetic result — the instrumentality of their son's assemblage for "proper burial."
The parents praised the bipartisan practice betwixt the outgoing Biden medication and President-elect Donald Trump's squad successful securing the agreement.
"There's nary daylight betwixt the 2 teams," Orna Neutra said, noting some administrations helped propulsion the woody forward.
