Ruby Chen continues to refer to his son as a “hostage” in the traditional sense: he is being held without his consent, potentially harmed, and will only be freed when the kidnappers get what they demand.

Chen, originally from New York, focuses on his son’s plight rather than the memories of him as a lively middle child who loved to sing and dance, was passionate about basketball, had a devoted girlfriend, and was the cherished “connector” of the family.

He remains a hostage and a son, here in spirit.

Still alive.

Recently, a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas came into effect. This agreement will allow for the release of the first group of hostages held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip for the last 15 months. In exchange, some Palestinian prisoners will also be set free, marking the first pause in conflict in Gaza in over a year.

During this initial phase of the agreement, which will unfold over six weeks, 33 hostages—including women, children, and elderly individuals—will be released in return for a number of Palestinian detainees.

Among the hostages held by Hamas, seven are Americans. Of those, two of the three believed to be alive may be part of the first wave of releases, as indicated by senior Biden administration officials.

However, Chak’s son Itay, a U.S. citizen, will not be included in this list.

At the time of the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel’s southern border, Itay was a 19-year-old soldier in the Israel Defense Forces. Hamas’s incursion resulted in the deaths of around 1,200 individuals, and they subsequently returned with Itay and 250 other hostages back to Gaza.

Israeli intelligence assessed in March that Itay had been killed during the attack by Hamas militants while he was operating with a tank unit. His body was reportedly kept hidden in Gaza to be leveraged in negotiations like the current one. Nevertheless, lacking solid evidence, Itay’s family holds onto hope, remembering him as a spirited middle child with endless potential, and who had a knack for mixing family dynamics.

“Hamas hasn’t given us any sign that he’s dead,” his father said in a phone call from Israel. “In our hearts, my son is still a hostage, and that hasn’t changed.”

Ceasefire set between Israel and Hamas

The situation has shifted since November 2023 when a prior agreement saw 105 hostages released amid a temporary truce, with Israel reciprocating by freeing about 240 Palestinians. Families like the Chens now have a genuine opportunity to be reunited with their loved ones.

However, the Chens may still have some waiting ahead. The specific identities of those to be released in Gaza haven’t been officially disclosed, though some Israeli news sources unveiled a leaked roster of the 33 hostages anticipated to be freed first, which includes kidnapped children, young female soldiers, two American citizens, a survivor from a music festival, and an 84-year-old peace activist.

Israel has warned that it cannot assure the survival of all hostages being released in the initial phase. The sequence in which hostages are set to be freed has also not been disclosed by Israel, emphasizing that it is subject to change at any moment.

From the Palestinian side, Israel’s justice ministry has released a list of 95 detainees potentially involved in the initial exchange. This list is primarily comprised of women detained after the October 7 attacks. Currently, roughly ten thousand Palestinians sit incarcerated in Israel, many for offenses ranging from throwing rocks to more severe charges like attempted murder. Some face indictments tied to vague accusations of “state security,” while others remain without formal charges.

The Americans held in Gaza

Sagui Dekel-Chen, 36 — not related to Itay Chen but sharing a similar tragic fate — and Keith Siegel, 64, are expected to be the first Americans to be released under the current agreement.

Dekel-Chen has connections to Bloomfield, Conn., and qualifies for early release because he is believed to be seriously injured. He was last seen locking his pregnant wife and their two daughters in a safe room as Hamas militants invaded their home in the Nir Oz kibbutz on October 7.

While his family managed to escape, he did not.

In a phone interview, Dekel-Chen’s father, Jonathan, described his son as an innovative entrepreneur known for repurposing old buses. “He’s the kind of son anyone would cherish. His positivity is infectious, and his creativity knows no bounds,” Jonathan said.

Siegel hails from Chapel Hill, N.C. Meeting the age criteria for the initial phase of release, he was kidnapped along with his wife, Aviva, from Kibbutz Kfar Aza, one of the most devastated areas during Hamas’ attacks. Kfar Aza, just a mile from the Gaza border, saw homes destroyed by explosions and littered with bullet holes. The Israeli military engaged in intense combat against Hamas there.

Aviva Siegel was released during the November 2023 truce. She recounted begging for food and water while being held hostage, and since her return, she has been advocating for her husband’s freedom. During his abduction on October 7, he suffered broken ribs and a gunshot wound to his hand.

Adi Alexander is anxiously waiting for news about his 21-year-old son Edan’s potential inclusion among the released hostages. He shared his hopes in a phone interview, yearning for a moment when he can embrace his child again.

“I just want to hug him and hope he says, ‘It wasn’t so bad. I’m okay.'” Edan, a standout swimmer from New Jersey, had been spending his gap year in service with the Israeli military when he was taken.

In late November, Hamas released a video featuring Edan, albeit under duress; he was seen urging the Israeli government to halt the war and negotiate peace. The Alexander family realizes that since their son was in the IDF when he was abducted, he is unlikely to be freed until the second phase of the deal. Discussions surrounding that phase will likely begin by the 16th day of the initial truce. Regardless, the Alexanders remain hopeful about the ceasefire and its implications for them.

“We’ve maintained our optimism throughout. For the first time, it really feels like we are getting closer,” Adi Alexander remarked.

Celebrations in Gaza

Still, the atmosphere of cautious optimism is felt beyond just the families of hostages in Israel.

In Gaza, millions celebrated upon hearing the announcement of the renewed ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, filling streets with joy and honking car horns,

People wave Palestinian flags and celebrate amidst a scene of many buildings and homes that have been destroyed.

The newly reached agreement aims to increase humanitarian aid to Gaza, where Palestinians, the United Nations, and organizations like the International Committee of the Red Cross report critical shortages of necessities such as food, water, shelter, and fuel. The UN and the ICRC are gearing up to enhance their aid efforts when the ceasefire begins.

If this agreement holds, it will bring a halt to the violence that has resulted in the deaths of over 46,000 Palestinians, according to authorities in Gaza controlled by Hamas. A large portion of the 2.3 million residents in the area has faced multiple displacements.

“Right now, it’s all about celebrating,” said Nour Swirki, a Palestinian TV reporter, in a short WhatsApp message.

Swirki has spent much of the conflict living in a tent at a hospital in Deir al-Balah, located in central Gaza. She sent her children to Egypt for safety and longs to be with them again.

Swirki’s desires are heartbreakingly simple: to have a home, sleep without fear, and embrace her kids.

Even with the prospect of a ceasefire approaching, Israel has continued its airstrikes in Gaza.

Since the announcement of the agreement, dozens of Palestinians have been killed and many more injured.

Amal Nassar is currently taking refuge in a neighbor’s apartment, as their own building lies in ruins in Deir Al-Balah. Nassar spent months gathering funds to eventually evacuate to Egypt with her husband and three young children. As the conflict has continued, prices for basic goods have surged, and their savings have now been depleted for mere survival.

All borders remain closed to civilians.

“Yes!!!,” Nassar exclaimed in a WhatsApp message about the ceasefire, and she sent a video of her three children excitedly jumping up and down, chanting “Ceasefire! Ceasefire! Ceasefire!”

One of Nassar’s children, Mira, born during the conflict, turned one recently. In the video, she jumps with her siblings, Ahmad (8) and Yara (7), imitating their movements and sounds, though her steps are shaky.

“We are alright,” Nassar stated in her message. “We have lost many family members.”

Nassar mentioned that if the war comes to an end, her family might choose to stay and rebuild or attempt to leave once more. She remains uncertain.

Awaiting definitive proof of life or death

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

Among those believed to be dead are American hostages Gad Haggai (72), his wife Judith Weinstein (70), and Omer Neutra (21). None are expected to return to their families during the initial phases of the agreement.

For the families, the waiting is agonizing.

“All hostages should be released, no matter their condition,” said Chen, who seeks undeniable proof before accepting his son’s death. He plans to travel to Washington, D.C. to attend President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration on Monday, where he’ll also meet with members of Trump’s national security team and the special envoy for hostage matters. Other families of American hostages have received invitations to the inauguration as well.

“We must remind everyone that five Americans will not be included in the first phase of the deal, and that the U.S. has an obligation to its citizens that should not be overlooked,” he emphasized.

Ultimately, how much longer these reminders are necessary remains uncertain. The full return of all hostages is not anticipated until the third and final phase of the agreement, for which no specific timeline has been established.

One of the hostages has been waiting for his release for the majority of his young life. Kfir Bibas, who was kidnapped by Hamas on October 7 when he was just nine months old, celebrated his second birthday while still in captivity.