The father of one of the Israeli hostages who was kidnapped on October 7 and died in Hamas captivity expressed his sentiments regarding the Gaza deal, stating that it comes too late for his son. Michael Illouz, the father of Guy Illouz who was kidnapped during the Nova music festival, spoke at an event in Tel Aviv alongside other members of the Hostages and Missing Families Forum.
Illouz mentioned that while the deal may not save his son's life, it could bring him back home for a proper burial. He welcomed the agreement with a mix of emotions, expressing joy for every hostage saved and every life preserved.
The families of hostages who were either killed or held captive in Gaza have urged for the full implementation of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire and hostage release agreement. They conveyed their appreciation to both the outgoing Biden administration and the incoming Trump administration for their efforts in securing this long-awaited deal.
Einav Zangauker, the mother of hostage Matan Zangauker, shared her newfound hope of reuniting with her son. She emphasized the importance of ensuring that the agreement is fully executed to guarantee the safe return of all hostages.
The agreement is set to release a total of 33 hostages during the initial six-week phase. This group includes female soldiers, children, the elderly, and the sick, as confirmed by Qatar's prime minister earlier in the week.
