Families of hostages not slated for release from Gaza during current truce face enduring nightmare
- With some 240 captives in Hamas hands, just a fraction of families will be reunited under the 4-day ceasefire arrangement
- Only women and children are expected to be among the 50 hostages freed – none of the men will be released
Ofri Bibas Levy has been haunted by nightmares since October 7, when her brother, sister-in-law and their two young children were snatched by Hamas militants from their homes and dragged into the Gaza Strip.
In those dreams she sees her captive relatives, all except for her brother Yarden. That subconscious omission may reflect her ordeal: only women and children are expected to be among the 50 hostages released during a four-day ceasefire between Israel and Hamas that started on Friday.
All of the men, and many women, will remain captive in Gaza for now. It was not clear if all children were expected to be freed.
“It’s a deal that puts the families in a situation that is inhuman. Who will come out and who won’t?” Bibas Levy asked. “The children come out, but my brother and many other people stay?”
The deal will bring relief to dozens whose relatives are captive – as well as to Palestinians in Gaza who have endured weeks of bombardment and dire conditions.
