‘My building of hope has collapsed’: Hostage families devastated by strikes on Gaza

Tel Aviv, Israel: When a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas began two months ago, Herut Nimrodi knew it would take time before her son was released from captivity in Gaza. The 20-year-old soldier was meant to be part of the second phase of the deal winding down the war.

But with Israel’s surprise bombardment of Gaza on Tuesday, she fears he might not come home at all.

“I really wanted to believe that there is still a chance to reach a second stage without renewing this war. But it feels like my building of hope has collapsed, and I have no idea what to do next,” Nimrodi said.

Israel launched overnight airstrikes across Gaza that Hamas said killed hundreds of people, shattering a nearly two-month ceasefire with the Palestinian group.Credit: Bloomberg

Nearly 60 families have relatives still held in Gaza. About two dozen hostages are believed to be alive.

During the three-stage ceasefire’s first phase, which began in January, Hamas released 25 Israeli hostages and the bodies of eight others in exchange for nearly 2000 Palestinian prisoners. But since that phase ended early this month, the sides have not been able to agree on the details of the second phase.

Nimrodi’s son, Tamir, was abducted from his army base when Hamas stormed into Israel on October 7, 2023, killing some 1200 people and taking more than 250 hostage. She’s had no sign of life. He hasn’t been declared dead by Israel.

“It’s so sad that this is the only solution that they could find,” she said, lamenting the government’s decision.

Gaza’s Health Ministry said the strikes killed at least 404 people and wounded more than 560. Zaher al-Waheidi, head of the ministry’s records department, said at least 263 of those killed were women or children under 18. He described it as the deadliest day in Gaza since the start of the war that has killed more than 48,000 Palestinians.

Palestinians mourn the bodies of those killed during Israeli airstrikes at the Al-Ahli hospital in Gaza City.Credit: Bloomberg

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he ordered the airstrikes after Hamas refused demands to change the ceasefire agreement. Israeli officials called the operation open-ended.

In a statement aired on national television, he said the attack was “only the beginning” and that Israel would press ahead until it achieves all of its war aims – destroying Hamas and freeing all hostages held by the militant group.

All further ceasefire negotiations would take place “under fire”, he said. The White House said it had been consulted and voiced support for Israel’s actions, blaming Hamas.

After the strikes, Israeli military ordered people to evacuate eastern Gaza and head towards the centre of the territory, indicating that it could soon launch renewed ground operations.

“Israel will, from now on, act against Hamas with increasing military strength,” Netanyahu’s office said.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends his trial on corruption charges last week.Credit: AP

A senior Hamas official said Netanyahu’s decision to return to war amounted to a “death sentence” for the remaining hostages. Izzat al-Risheq accused Netanyahu of launching the strikes to save his far-right governing coalition.

Hamas said at least six senior officials were killed in Tuesday’s strikes. Israel said they included the head of Hamas’ civilian government, its justice minister and two security agency chiefs. There were no reports of any attacks by Hamas several hours after the bombardment. But Yemen’s Houthi rebels fired rockets towards Israel for the first time since the ceasefire began, setting off sirens in Israel’s southern Negev desert. They were intercepted, the military said.

The return to fighting could deepen the painful debate in Israel over the fate of the remaining hostages.

Netanyahu and his hardline governing partners believe renewing the war will put pressure on Hamas to free the hostages and move Israel closer to its goal of destroying Hamas’ military and governing capabilities.

But most hostage families, and large parts of the Israeli public, believe such goals are unrealistic. They say time is running out, particularly after the recent releases of emaciated-looking hostages who later described harsh conditions in captivity.

Protesters demand the release of hostages held in the Gaza Strip, in Tel Aviv, Israel, on Tuesday.Credit: AP

Hamas accused Netanyahu of upending the ceasefire and exposing the hostages “to an unknown fate”.

Families of hostages and supporters held a protest outside Israel’s parliament and on the Gaza border.

Some families who already know their relatives in Gaza are dead called the government’s decision unacceptable.

“This is not only a disaster in every way, shape or form on how the hostages keep suffering, being chained to walls, starved, abused, but also the death toll that keeps rising on the Gazan side,” Udi Goren said.

His cousin Tal Haimi was killed on October 7 and his body was taken into Gaza. Goren said the international community must pressure Hamas, Israel and the mediators – the United States, Egypt and Qatar – to end the war.

“Returning to fighting? Did you listen to a word of what we, the returnees released in the last deal, have been saying to you?” former hostage Omer Wenkert wrote on Instagram.

Romi Gonen, among the first hostages to be freed in the ceasefire’s first phase, said she would never forget what it felt like in captivity to hear the bombs after previous ceasefire talks collapsed and realise she wouldn’t be freed any time soon.

“I beg you, the people of Israel, we must continue to fight for them,” she said on Instagram.

Sylvia Cunio, whose two sons are held hostage, accused Israel’s leaders of not having a heart.

“It isn’t right to continue the fighting. I want my children back home already. If he wants to kill me, the prime minister, let him do that already because I won’t get through this,” she said on local radio.

Nimrodi said she’s worried the airstrikes might not only harm her son and the other hostages but also make their living conditions worse.

The last time she saw Tamir, he was a funny teenager who rode horses and loved learning about geology and astronomy, she said. The two had a similar humour and used to talk about everything.

While she’s terrified of what is to come, she said she won’t stop fighting to see him again.

“Please, keep strong, survive,” she said, addressing him. “So there’s a chance for us to meet once more.”

In Gaza, stunned Palestinians found themselves once again digging loved ones out of rubble and holding funeral prayers over the dead at hospital morgues.

At Khan Younis’ Nasser Hospital, wounded children overwhelmed the paediatric ward, said Dr Tanya-Haj Hassan, a volunteer with Medical Aid for Palestinians aid group.

“We woke up to an airstrike frenzy. The windows were shaking, the doors flew open,” she said. “The patients have been flowing in ever since.”

AP

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