Tel Aviv, Israel – Two months have passed since the initial ceasefire between Israel and Hamas commenced, and for Herut Nimrodi, the anticipation of her son’s safe return from Gaza remains a hopeful yet fragile possibility. Her 20-year-old son, a soldier, was expected to be freed in the second phase of the wartime agreement. However, with Israel’s surprising renewed assault on Gaza, her hope of his return is overshadowed by fear.
“I truly wanted to believe in the potential of reaching a subsequent phase without reigniting the war. It feels as if my tower of hope has crumbled, leaving me lost,” Nimrodi expressed on Tuesday.
Approximately 60 families continue to await the return of their loved ones from Gaza. As of now, around two dozen hostages are presumed alive. During the ceasefire’s first phase beginning in January, Hamas released 25 Israeli captives and returned the remains of eight others in exchange for the freedom of nearly 2,000 Palestinian detainees. However, as that phase concluded earlier this month, efforts to reach a new agreement have stalled.
The resumption of Israeli airstrikes now threatens the fragile arrangement. Nimrodi’s son, Tamir, was captured from his base when Hamas launched an attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, resulting in the deaths of around 1,200 people and the kidnapping of over 250 individuals. Since then, she has received no signs of his well-being, and the Israeli authorities have not yet confirmed his death.
“It’s distressing that this seemed to be the only available solution,” she lamented about the government’s course of action.
Early Tuesday strikes claimed more than 400 lives, shattering a period of relative calm and extinguishing hopes for ending the conflict that has resulted in over 48,000 Palestinian casualties. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu justified the airstrikes, citing stagnation in negotiations to extend the ceasefire, with officials describing the operation as indefinite.
The renewed hostilities further fuel the intense debate within Israel concerning the remaining hostages’ fates. Netanyahu, along with his steadfast government allies, believes renewing the conflict may pressure Hamas into releasing the captives and assist Israel in fulfilling its objective of dismantling Hamas’ military and governance structures. However, many affected families and a significant portion of the Israeli populace refute these aims as impractical.
Time becomes increasingly critical, especially following the liberation of hostages who now depict dire incarceration conditions. Hamas, meanwhile, accuses Netanyahu of derailing the ceasefire, thereby jeopardizing the hostages’ “unknown fate.”
Families have mobilized for protests near Israel’s parliament, imploring their supporters to unite with them. Several families, already mourning deceased relatives in Gaza, criticize the government’s decision as unacceptable.
“This situation is catastrophic; the hostages continue to endure immense suffering, chained and abused, while the death toll within Gaza climbs,” stated Udi Goren, whose cousin, Tal Haimi, was killed in the October attack and taken to Gaza. Goren advocates for global pressure on Hamas, Israel, and mediators like the United States, Egypt, and Qatar, to cease the conflict.
“Have you paid heed to what we—the hostages returned in the last deal—have been saying?” questioned former captive Omer Wenkert on Instagram. Following her release in the ceasefire’s initial phase, Romi Gonen vividly recalls the fear during captivity when the bombs fell, with peace negotiations having failed. “I implore the people of Israel, our fight for their release must continue,” she implored on Instagram.
Sylvia Cunio, mother of two hostages, denounced Israel’s leadership for heartlessness. “The continuation of this conflict isn’t justifiable. I yearn for my children’s return. If the prime minister intends to harm me in such a situation, let it be, as I cannot endure this,” she emotionally conveyed on local radio.
Nimrodi remains deeply troubled, fearing the airstrikes might not only jeopardize her son and fellow captives but also further deteriorate their living conditions. She last saw Tamir as a vibrant young man engaging in his passions for horse riding, geology, and astronomy. Despite her apprehensions about the future, her determination to reunite with him persists.
“Remain steadfast and endure,” she voiced to her son, hoping for a future reunion.