British families of Israeli hostages held captive by Hamas in Gaza have hailed the news of a ceasefire deal.
On Wednesday, negotiators confirmed that Hamas and Israeli counterparts had finally agreed to a ceasefire that could mark the end of 15 months of bloodshed.
Part of the ceasefire agreement included the initial release of 33 hostages, with the remaining captives being released at a later date.
Israel would also release thousands of Palestinians who are being held in Israeli jails under the ceasefire agreement and allow Palestinians to return to their homes in the Gaza Strip.
Although the ceasefire is yet to be approved by Israel’s cabinet, there were scenes of celebration on the streets of Israel as campaigners welcomed news of the captives’ return.
Some families in the UK were also celebrating the potential release of their loved ones, but uncertainty remains as to whether they’ll be found alive.
Speaking to the BBC, the British-Israeli daughter of 84-year-old hostage Oded Lifschitz said she was hopeful to find her father alive following the news.
Sharone Lifschitz’s parents Oded and Yocheved (Sharone Lifschitz/PA) (PA Media)
Sharone Lifschitz, from east London, said: “I know that the chances for my dad are very slim. He’s an elderly man, but miracles do happen.”
“My mum did come back, and one way or another, we will know. We will know if he’s still with us, if we can look after him. We will know… My father didn’t deserve this.”
Israel has killed at least 46,000 Palestinians, including thousands of women and children, following a Hamas attack in October 2023 that killed 1,200 Israelis. It’s thought over 200 hostages were taken by Hamas at the time, of which 94 remain captive.
According to Amnesty International, at least 3,291 Palestinians are also being held without charge or trial by Israeli forces.
News of a ceasefire could mean that prisoners on both sides will finally be reunited with their families.
It is understood there is just one British citizen, Emily Damari, who is currently believed to be in Hamas captivity. However, many other captives have close familial ties across the UK.
The UK’s prime minister, Sir Keir Starmer, has also praised the news of a ceasefire agreement while acknowledging the British citizens that have lost their lives.
In his statement he said: “The hostages, who were brutally ripped from their homes on that day and held captive in unimaginable conditions ever since, can now finally return to their families. But we should also use this moment to pay tribute to those who won’t make it home – including the British people who were murdered by Hamas. We will continue to mourn and remember them.
“For the innocent Palestinians whose homes turned into a warzone overnight and the many who have lost their lives, this ceasefire must allow for a huge surge in humanitarian aid, which is so desperately needed to end the suffering in Gaza.”
Ayelet Svatitzky, the sister of two British citizens killed in the Israel-Hamas conflict, said “there will never be any closure” until all Israeli hostages are returned.