LONDON — Sharone Lifschitz is acutely aware of the challenges facing her 84-year-old father, Oded Lifshitz, who is among the oldest hostages taken by Hamas. Under an impending ceasefire agreement, which is set to commence on Sunday, he could potentially be one of the first hostages released. However, after an agonizing 469 days of captivity in Gaza, Lifschitz can only cling to hope for her father’s survival.

“We have come to learn a great deal about trauma and the sorrow of losing those we love,” remarked the London-based artist. “I must admit, we are prepared.”

Currently, around 100 hostages remain unaccounted for in Gaza, and it is believed that at least 62 may still be alive. Friends and family are left in suspense, waiting to discover the fate and conditions of their loved ones.

The situation for Lifschitz took a dark turn on October 7, 2023, when Hamas militants overran kibbutz Nir Oz, the very place her parents had cultivated as a sanctuary, marked by a cactus garden cherished by her father. That day, around a quarter of the kibbutz’s 400 residents were taken captive, including Lifschitz’s parents.

“My father was shot in the hand and was lying on the threshold of his own world,” Lifschitz, 53, recounted. “That was the last moment my mother saw him before she was taken away by motorbike. Shortly after, they set the house ablaze. They poured gasoline into our home, and it just burned, until all that remained was ash.”

Oded Lifshitz, who has a slightly different spelling of his name than his daughter, is a man who dedicated his life to promoting Arab rights. Throughout his extensive journalism career, he fervently advocated for the recognition of Palestinian rights and the need for peace between Arabs and Jews. In his retirement, he volunteered weekly at the Erez border crossing, helping transport Palestinians to medical appointments in Israel through a group known as On the Way to Recovery.

His advocacy extended to the Bedouin community of the Negev Desert, a cause close to his heart. His daughter shared that a significant case he championed made it to Israel’s High Court, leading to the restitution of some land to the Bedouins.

The resilience of this belief in coexistence shone through when militants released Yocheved Lifschitz, her mother, on October 23, 2023. Before departing Gaza, Yocheved turned to her captors and uttered “shalom,” which means peace in Hebrew.

Despite enduring extreme hardship—she described being beaten and crammed into a complex web of tunnels with several fellow hostages—Yocheved noted that her captors also provided needed medications and food, including pita bread with cheese and cucumber.

Every day, Lifschitz expresses concern regarding her father’s well-being and treatment during his captivity. “I know I shouldn’t speak for him, but I can say he dedicated his life to the belief that there is a viable alternative for Zionism and socialism,” she conveyed.

Hamas’s brutal attack on October 7 resulted in approximately 1,200 Israeli fatalities and saw 251 people taken hostage. In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu initiated aerial and ground operations in Gaza, leading to over 46,000 fatalities, as reported by Gaza’s Health Ministry.

The ceasefire deal proposes a release of 33 hostages over the course of the next six weeks, in exchange for a significant number of Palestinians held in Israel. A second phase of releases, encompassing remaining captives and the deceased, is still under negotiation. Hamas has insisted that no remaining hostages will be freed without a durable ceasefire and a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip.

This latest agreement bears a striking resemblance to proposals previously negotiated by the administration of outgoing U.S. President Joe Biden in May, which Israel eventually declined. Families of the captives expressed outrage over the original rejection, especially given that hostages continued to perish in captivity.

These families have taken action, organizing protests to ensure that the Israeli government prioritizes bringing the hostages home. They have traveled globally, meeting with world leaders, including presidents and even the pope, to keep the plight of the hostages at the forefront of discussions.

“So many lives were lost that should not have been, had this deal not been sabotaged,” Lifschitz noted. “I hope those responsible realize they will bear this burden for the rest of their lives, and we will remind them of the suffering inflicted on both sides due to their actions.”

While recounting the torment experienced over the past 15 months, Lifschitz maintains her hope that the shared pain could inspire empathy among both Israelis and Palestinians. “We are on the verge of reuniting with our loved ones after such an extended period of separation,” she expressed. “There’s immense trauma involved. I believe that people must approach it with compassion, feeling it in their hearts.”

“Understanding the anguish experienced by others is the first step to fostering a brighter future,” she added.

And if her father does not return? “We will know,” she responded softly. “We will know.”