Families of Israeli hostages who were taken by Hamas, including those of British-Israeli citizens, have responded to the ceasefire agreement with cautious optimism. The deal was brokered to bring an end to the prolonged conflict in Gaza. The United States President Joe Biden confirmed that of the 94 hostages who were being held by Hamas, 34 of whom were presumed dead, the survivors would be released in phases. The daughter of a hostage, Oded Lifschitz, who is 84 years old, expressed her hope that her father survived the ordeal. Sharone Lifschitz, speaking from her East London home, said that she believed in miracles.
The family of another hostage, Eli Sharabi, expressed its hopes that he would be freed in the first phase of the agreement, in which 33 hostages would be exchanged for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails. Steve Brisley, Sharabi’s brother-in-law from Bridgend, Wales, stated that whilst he had hoped for his relative’s release, he was cautious due to potential setbacks.
On October 7, 2023, approximately 1,200 people were killed, and 251 others were taken hostage in Hamas’s attack on southern Israel. In response, Israel launched a significant military campaign to destroy Hamas, killing more than 46,700 people in Gaza. According to the territory’s Hamas-run health ministry, the military action displaced most of the 2.3 million populations and caused widespread destruction. Despite the ceasefire agreement, there are still concerns about shortages of food, fuel, medicine, and shelter in Gaza.
The family of Emily Damari, a British-Israeli citizen, has also campaigned vigorously for her release. Emily was taken from her home by Hamas gunmen and is the only British hostage being held in Gaza. Her mother, Mandy, shared images of football fans at an Arsenal v. Tottenham match who brought messages of support for her daughter. British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, described the deal as “long-overdue news that the Israeli and Palestinian people have desperately been waiting for” and used the moment to pay tribute to those who would not make it home, including British people murdered by Hamas. Foreign Secretary David Lammy called the ceasefire a “moment of hope after over a year of agony.
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