Ruby Chen is currently focused on calling his son a “hostage” in the true sense of the word: he is being held against his will, potentially in harm’s way, and will be released only when the kidnappers get what they demand.

Chen, who hails from New York, isn’t describing his son as just a middle child who loved to sing and dance, enjoyed basketball, had a caring girlfriend, and was affectionately known in the family as the “connector.”

His son is a hostage and a son in the here and now, still alive.

This Sunday, the first group of many captives taken by the militant group Hamas in the Gaza Strip over the last 15 months is anticipated to be released as part of an initial phase of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas. The truce will also see Palestinian detainees being released from Israeli prisons, marking the first halt in hostilities in Gaza in more than a year.

During the first phase of the agreement, to take place over six weeks, 33 hostages, including women, children, and elderly individuals, will be released in exchange for a corresponding number of Palestinian prisoners.

Overall, Hamas is holding seven Americans. Two of the three believed to be alive are anticipated to be included in the initial phase of the agreement, according to high-ranking officials in the Biden administration.

However, Chen’s son Itay, who is a citizen of the U.S., Israel, and Germany, will not be part of this release.

Itay was 19 years old and serving in the Israel Defense Forces when Hamas launched an attack on Israel’s southern border with Gaza on October 7, 2023, resulting in approximately 1,200 fatalities and taking 251 hostages back to Gaza.

Israeli intelligence determined in March that Itay was likely killed at some point by Hamas militants while he was serving with a tank unit. His body was reportedly taken to Gaza and concealed to be used in a potential ransom exchange like the one that is beginning on Sunday, officials stated.

Nonetheless, without any concrete evidence, Itay’s family continues to hope that their son, whom they remember as an energetic and mischievous middle child, “with all the potential in the world” and “who loved to play his parents against each other,” is somehow still among the living captives.

“Hamas hasn’t indicated to us that he’s dead,” his father shared in a phone interview from Israel. “From our view, if you want to characterize my son, the first word would be ‘hostage.’ That classification hasn’t changed.”

At last, Israel and Hamas reach ceasefire

What has changed is that for the first time since November 2023 – when 105 hostages were released from Gaza during a week-long truce between Israel and Hamas, while Israel freed roughly 240 Palestinian detainees from its prisons – families like the Chens now have a genuine chance of reuniting with their loved ones.

However, the Chens may need to wait a little longer. The names of those set to be released in Gaza have not been officially disclosed, although several Israeli news sources reported on Friday a leaked list of the 33 expected hostages. This list includes abducted children, female soldiers who were teenagers when taken, two Americans, a survivor of the Nova music festival, and an 84-year-old peace activist.

Israel has warned that it cannot guarantee the survival of all hostages who will be released in this initial stage. The sequence of the releases is also not public due to potential last-minute adjustments.

The ceasefire is set to commence at 8:30 a.m. local time (1:30 a.m. ET) on Sunday. On the same day, three hostages are anticipated to be released, with additional groups expected to be freed at regular intervals in the coming weeks. Israel’s government officially approved the deal late Friday during a cabinet vote.

On the Palestinian side, Israel’s justice ministry has released a list of 95 prisoners who might be a part of the initial exchange. Most of these individuals are women who were arrested following Hamas’ attacks on October 7. There are around ten thousand Palestinians incarcerated in Israel, with some arrested for minor offenses like throwing stones or firebombs, while others face serious charges like attempted murder or weapon manufacturing. Some have ambiguous charges related to “state security” or “damage to security areas,” and some are detained with no charges at all.

Who are the Americans held in Gaza?

The first two Americans expected to be released in this deal are Sagui Dekel-Chen, 36 − who is not related to Itay Chen but shares a similar harrowing experience of being a hostage in Gaza − and Keith Siegel, 64.

Dekel-Chen has familial connections to Bloomfield, Connecticut. He qualifies for release in the first phase of the agreement because he is believed to be severely injured. He was last seen kissing his pregnant wife as he hid her and their two daughters in a safe room during the Hamas invasion of their home in Nir Oz kibbutz, southern Israel, on October 7.

His family managed to escape, but he did not.

In a phone discussion, Dekel-Chen’s father, Jonathan, described his son as an entrepreneur whose “hobby project involves repurposing old buses for new purposes.” He remarked, “He’s the son everyone would be proud of. You can’t meet him without smiling. He’s endlessly optimistic. He’s a builder and a creator, and he has been since he was young.”

Siegel, originally from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, qualifies for early release under the agreement due to his age. He was kidnapped alongside his wife Aviva from Kibbutz Kfar Aza, a community heavily impacted during the Hamas attacks. Located just a mile from Gaza, Kfar Aza faced destruction from explosives, gunfire, and tank shelling. Israeli military forces battled Hamas militants in the area for several days.

Aviva Siegel was released during the November 2023 truce. As a captive, she reported having to beg for food and water, as she has shared in interviews. Since her release, she has been advocating with the Israeli government to help secure her husband’s release. When Hamas militants captured him on October 7, he sustained broken ribs and a gunshot wound to his hand.

Adi Alexander is currently hoping to learn if his 21-year-old son Edan will be among the released captives. He mentioned in a phone interview that he is praying his son has been able to endure captivity unscathed.

“I just want to embrace him and hope he says, ‘You know what? It wasn’t so terrible. I’m okay.'” Edan Alexander, a talented high school swimmer from New Jersey, is renowned for his striking eyes and charming smile, which are said to have attracted many girls. He made the choice to serve in the Israeli military during his gap year before college when he was captured.

Hamas released a video featuring him in late November, where he appeared under pressure, addressing the Israeli government in English, asking for an end to the conflict and a peace agreement. The Alexander family understands that since their son was in the IDF at the time of his kidnapping, his release is unlikely until the deal’s second phase, at the earliest. Talks about the timing for that phase are expected to happen on the 16th day of the first phase. Nevertheless, the Alexanders remain hopeful regarding the ceasefire and its potential implications for their family.

“We’ve remained optimistic all along. For the first time, it truly feels like we are finally getting there,” shared Adi Alexander.

Finally, Joy in Gaza

A feeling of nervous hope and relief extends beyond the families of hostages in Israel.

In Gaza, millions of Palestinians rejoiced upon hearing the announcement on Wednesday that both Israel and Hamas have agreed to a new ceasefire. Celebrations erupted in the streets with horns honking, Palestinian flags waving, and expressions of joy, all set against the backdrop of countless homes and buildings laid to waste.

The new agreement promises an increase in humanitarian aid to Gaza, where Palestinians, along with the United Nations and organizations like the International Committee of the Red Cross, report critical shortages of basic necessities such as food, water, shelter, and fuel. Both the UN and ICRC are gearing up to enhance their aid efforts in anticipation of the ceasefire taking effect.

If upheld, this ceasefire could halt a conflict that has claimed the lives of over 46,000 Palestinians, as reported by authorities in Hamas-run Gaza. The fighting has forced most of the region’s 2.3 million residents to be displaced multiple times.

“It’s all about celebrating right now,” stated Nour Swirki, a Palestinian television journalist, in a short WhatsApp message.

Swirki has spent much of the conflict living in a tent on the grounds of a medical facility in Deir al Balah, central Gaza. She managed to send her children to Egypt but yearns to be reunited with them.

Her hopes are surprisingly simple: a safe home, peaceful sleep, and a chance to embrace her children.

However, despite the onset of a potential ceasefire, Israel has not ceased its airstrikes in Gaza.

Dozens of Palestinians have lost their lives and hundreds more have been wounded since the ceasefire announcement.

Amal Nassar mentioned that her family is currently staying in a neighbor’s damaged apartment in Deir Al-Balah after their own home was destroyed. Nassar invested months gathering funds in hopes of escaping to Egypt with her husband and three young kids. Unfortunately, as the conflict drags on, the cost of living has skyrocketed, draining all their resources for mere “survival.”

Borders in all directions remain closed to civilians.

“Yeah!!!,” Nassar exclaimed in a WhatsApp text about the ceasefire, adding a video of her three children joyfully bouncing around while chanting “Ceasefire! Ceasefire! Ceasefire!”

One of Nassar’s children, Mira, who was born during the conflict, recently celebrated her first birthday. In the clip, she jumps alongside her siblings, Ahmad, 8, and Yara, 7, mimicking their cheers. Her balance is shaky.

“We are fine,” Nassar shared in the message. “We have lost many relatives.”

Nassar indicated that if the war finally ends, her family might choose to stay and rebuild or attempt to leave once again. She remains uncertain.

Hoping for Clarity on Life or Death

The Israeli government believes there are still 94 hostages in Gaza, with 34 thought to be deceased.

Among these hostages are Itay Chen, along with American individuals Gad Haggai, 72; his spouse Judith Weinstein, 70; and Omer Neutra, 21, all presumed to have died. They are unlikely to be returned to their families in the initial stages of the current agreement.

For the families affected, the waiting game is agonizing.

“Every hostage should be released, no matter their condition,” said Chen, who seeks undeniable proof before labeling his son as gone. He plans to travel to Washington, D.C. for President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration on Monday, hoping to connect with members of Trump’s national security team and the envoy dedicated to hostage matters. Other families of American hostages have also received invites to the inauguration.

“We must remind everyone that five Americans will not return in the first phase of the deal, and that the responsibility of the United States towards its citizens will not be overlooked,” he emphasized.

Ultimately, it’s unclear how long such reminders will need to persist. The full return of all hostages isn’t anticipated until the final stage of the agreement, with no specific timeline provided yet.

One of the hostages has spent most of his brief life awaiting release. Kfir Bibas was abducted by Hamas on October 7 when he was just nine months old. This Saturday marked his second birthday, both of which have been spent in captivity.