Families of British citizens among Israeli hostages taken by Hamas have expressed cautious hope following the announcement of a ceasefire agreement aimed at ending the 15-month-long Gaza war. Under the deal, 94 hostages still held by Hamas, including 34 presumed dead, are expected to be released in stages, according to U.S. President Joe Biden.
Families Await News of Loved Ones
The daughter of 84-year-old hostage Oded Lifschitz, Sharone Lifschitz, shared her mixed emotions from her home in East London. “Miracles do happen,” she said, acknowledging the slim chances of her father’s survival but holding onto hope. Her father has been in captivity since October 2023, while her mother Yocheved was released later that month.
In Bridgend, Wales, Stephen Brisley, brother-in-law to hostage Eli Sharabi, expressed cautious optimism about his potential release. Sharabi is expected to be freed in the deal’s first phase, which involves an exchange of 33 hostages for Palestinian prisoners. “This is the best news we’ve had so far, but with the parties involved, you just never know,” Brisley said. He also mourned his sister, Lianne, and her teenage daughters Noiya and Yahel, who were killed during the Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023.
Ceasefire Brings Hope Amid Devastation
After months of on-and-off negotiations, U.S. and Qatari mediators confirmed the ceasefire would take effect on Sunday. The truce follows a year of intense conflict, which began with the October 2023 attack that left over 1,200 Israelis dead and 251 hostages taken. Israel’s subsequent military campaign has devastated Gaza, killing more than 46,700 people, according to Gaza’s health ministry, and displacing millions.
Sharone Lifschitz welcomed the ceasefire, calling it a “bit of sanity,” but warned of the challenges ahead. “There are more graves to come, and traumatised people to bring back. But we will look after them and help them see light again.”
British Families Share Emotional Reactions
For families like that of British-Israeli citizen Emily Damari, the wait for news has been agonizing. Her mother, Mandy, has campaigned tirelessly for Emily’s release, recently sharing photos of football fans at an Arsenal v. Tottenham match holding messages of support. “Thank you for saying, ‘Bring her home,’” she wrote on X.
Adam Ma’anit, whose cousin Tsachi Idan was taken hostage after Hamas killed his 18-year-old daughter, described the tension as “unbearable.” Speaking to BBC Radio 4, Ma’anit expressed a guarded optimism: “There are encouraging signs, but it’s important to remain cautious. We still don’t know if Tsachi is alive or dead.”
UK Leaders React to Ceasefire Agreement
Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the deal “long-overdue news that both Israelis and Palestinians have desperately been waiting for.” He acknowledged the trauma faced by the hostages and their families, as well as the ongoing devastation in Gaza.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy described the ceasefire as “a moment of hope after over a year of agony.” He highlighted the unbearable trauma experienced by hostages and their families and the catastrophic impact of the war on Gaza’s population.
