Two senior officials in the incoming Trump administration have assured families of hostages held captive in Gaza of their commitment to securing the release of all remaining hostages. The officials, incoming national security advisor Mike Waltz and Trump’s top official for hostage affairs Adam Boehler, expressed their dedication during a meeting with the families.
One of the family members, Ruby Chen, whose son Itay Chen, a dual US-Israeli citizen, was tragically killed during the Hamas attacks on Israel, shared that both officials affirmed their determination to continue efforts until the last hostage is freed.
The ongoing ceasefire deal is structured into three phases, with the initial phase anticipated to span six weeks and result in the release of 33 Israeli hostages. Additionally, foreign hostages, including Americans, are expected to be included in the releases, as per a source familiar with the agreement.
As of now, Hamas and its allies still hold 94 individuals who were taken from Israel on October 7, 2023, over a year ago. Regrettably, at least 34 of these hostages have been confirmed deceased by the Israeli government, with the actual toll likely higher.
The majority of the hostages, numbering 84, are either Israeli citizens or hold dual citizenship, while the remaining ten comprise individuals from Thailand, Nepal, and Tanzania, according to the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office.
Further negotiations for the subsequent phases of the ceasefire are slated to commence on the 16th day of the deal's implementation, as outlined by an Israeli official. These phases will entail the release of more hostages and mark the initiation of Gaza's reconstruction efforts.
