In limbo's grasp: Gaza hostage families cling to Trump as a potential lifeline
Rewritten Article:
Title: Gaza Hostage Saga: A Year of Captivity
In October 2023, Nimrod Cohen, a young Israeli soldier, found himself in Gaza, tattooed with a raven - a symbol immortalized by his abductors. After over 500 days in captivity, his mother, Vicky, finally received a glimpse of life, spotting him in a Hamas propaganda video.
"The tattoo was a lifeline," Vicky told CNN. "I recognized Nimrod through that tattoo, otherwise, I wouldn't've known him without hearing his voice or seeing his face. It was the first time we got a visual update on Nimrod, and it made him more present, more alive. But it also filled me with worry and fear."
Nimrod is one of 24 hostages believed to still be alive in Gaza. Despite his active-duty status, negotiations prioritized women, children, the elderly, and the injured for release. But for Vicky, nothing matters more than bringing her son home.
"I'm terrified and anxious, but I can't lose hope. I must believe that our government is doing everything to bring him back," she said.
Other hostages in this predicament include Edan Alexander, Matan Angrest, Tamir Nimrod, and a few other active-duty soldiers. Hamas also holds the bodies of several soldiers, most of whom were killed during the October 7 terror attack.
The initial deal between Israel and Hamas, agreed upon in January, is now expired, leaving the young hostages in an uncertain position. Under this deal, younger male hostages were meant to be released during the latter stages of the ceasefire. However, they are now stuck in a limbo, with the first phase of the agreement unresolved.
Edan Alexander is the only American hostage believed to be alive, but hopes are waning. The bodies of four more American citizens - Judi Weinstein Haggai, her husband Gad Haggai, and soldiers Itay Chan and Omer Maxim Neutra - are still in Gazaious hands.
A senior Hamas official recently spoke to CNN, confirming their commitment to the initial deal. They've agreed to a proposal for the release of Edan Alexander and the bodies of four deceased dual national hostages, contingent upon Israel adhering to terms laid out in the January ceasefire.
However, the Israeli Prime Minister's Office accused Hamas of manipulation and psychological warfare for announcing their readiness to release Alexander. Government ministers will meet to discuss the situation and decide on the next steps for the hostages' release.
Adi Alexander, Edan's father, has been tirelessly lobbying for his son's release along with the others. He and his wife have attended over 300 meetings with American officials.
"Everyone seems comfortable with the current ceasefire - Israelis and Hamas alike. There are no civilian deaths, no soldiers are dying, bullets aren't flying - that's great," Alexander told CNN. "But what about the hostages? We can't just sweep them under the rug. The Israelis need to move out of their comfort zone and negotiate."
Comparing the situation to the Gilad Shalit case, Alexander emphasized the need for continuous negotiations to bring the hostages home. Shalit, a former IDF soldier, was held by Hamas in Gaza for over five years before being released in exchange for 1,027 Palestinian prisoners in 2011.
Trump's Role
Earlier this year, both Israel and Hamas agreed to a phased ceasefire, with the initial phase ending in mid-February. During this phase, 38 hostages were freed from Gaza, and 1,737 Palestinian prisoners and detainees were released from Israeli prisons.
The second phase was intended to include the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza and the release of all remaining living hostages in exchange for more Palestinian prisoners and detainees. However, these details have yet to be agreed upon, leaving the hostages in an unstable situation.
To expedite matters, Israel suggested an extension of the first stage, demanding the release of half of the remaining living and deceased Israeli hostages in Gaza. In return, Israel would release more Palestinian prisoners and detainees and allow more aid into the territory. The remaining hostages would be released once or if a permanent ceasefire is agreed upon.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is under pressure from his far-right coalition partners to return to war. Bezalel Smotrich, the finance minister, has threatened to withdraw from the government if Israel doesn't restart the conflict. Itamar Ben Gvir resigned his post as national security minister over the ceasefire.
Smotrich and Ben Gvir have argued that Israel should wage war against Hamas until the group is "eliminated," after which they propose Israel to take over Gaza and establish Jewish settlements there - an idea backed by US President Donald Trump, though dismissed by most other leaders.
Vicky Cohen believes the Israeli government prioritizes defeating Hamas over the release of hostages, including her son.
"After over a year of war, Hamas continues to rule Gaza. I understand the need to stop Hamas from ruling Gaza, so we won't face another October 7... But we must pay a price, and now, the main thing is to bring the hostages back home. We can pause the war and withdraw from Gaza later," she said, deeming the idea of establishing settlements in Gaza as "nonsense."
To pressure Hamas, Israel announced earlier this month it would halt the entry of all humanitarian aid and electricity into Gaza. The families of the remaining hostages are now pinning their hopes on Trump, who has taken a notable U-turn in diplomacy by initiating direct negotiations with Hamas - a group considered a terrorist organization.
"We hear from Trump that he is committed to bringing all the hostages back, and we trust him. We believe that's what he will do - not because he loves the hostages, but because he wants to stop the war between Israel and Palestine and earn a Nobel Peace Prize," Cohen said.
Earlier this month, Trump issued a "last warning" to Hamas, demanding the immediate release of all hostages, or risk safety for every Hamas member. While Hamas sees Trump's words as a potential threat to the ceasefire, Edi Alexander maintains faith in Trump. He is the only one of the five American hostages, to be alive.
"People need to take Trump seriously, not literally, but they need to take him seriously," Alexander told CNN. "That's the way it works. You have to shake the tree, create chaos, and the chaos will create opportunities."
However, Trump's plan has yet to yield results. Instead, the US recently proposed extending the ceasefire in exchange for the release of a handful of living hostages, causing dismay among families of the hostages who fear their loved ones will remain captive indefinitely.
Vicky Cohen has publically pleaded with Netanyahu and other officials to "do the right thing."
"There are people still alive there, and even though Nimrod is a soldier, he is just 20 years old, and he is my son. I want to hug him. I want him back home. I miss the little things in life, like hearing his voice, seeing his smile, seeing the mess in his room, and the empty packets of ice cream he leaves behind," she said.
CNN's Mick Krever, Ibrahim Dahman, Jeremy Diamond, Abeer Salman, Dana Karni, and Lucas Lilieholm contributed to this report.
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Current Status of Hostages in Gaza
As of the latest updates, 24 hostages are believed to be alive in Gaza, including 22 Israelis, one Thai, and one Nepali. These individuals were abducted on October 7, 2023, during a massive Hamas-led attack on southern Israel that resulted in over 1,200 deaths and the capture of 251 hostages[1][3].
Specific Hostages
- Nimrod Cohen: Nimrod Cohen, a 20-year-old IDF soldier, is among those believed to be alive. His family has received signs of life, including a video where he was spotted walking, though his face was blurred. A returning hostage reported seeing him alive about eight months ago, describing him as being in poor physical and mental shape[1].
- Edan Alexander: There is no specific mention of Edan Alexander in the recent updates. However, Alexander is mentioned in a proposed deal by US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, which includes the release of five living Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners[3].
Ongoing Negotiations
Negotiations for the release of hostages are ongoing but have faced significant challenges. The first phase of the ceasefire deal ended, and Israel has been hesitant to proceed to the second phase, which would involve the release of the remaining living hostages and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza[1][3].
- US Involvement: US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff has been involved in crafting proposals to extend the ceasefire and facilitate hostage releases. His recent proposal includes the release of five living hostages in exchange for a substantial number of Palestinian prisoners[3].
- Hamas Response: Hamas has not responded favorably to these proposals, and there remains a deadlock in negotiations. The group's refusal to demilitarize and give up governing control of Gaza remains a significant obstacle[3].
- Israeli Position: Israel insists that all living hostages must be released before proceeding with further negotiations or withdrawing forces from Gaza. The government is also firm on its demand for Hamas's demilitarization[1][3].
- The ongoing negotiations for the release of the 24 hostages, including the Israeli soldier Nimrod Cohen, are faced with challenges, as Israel has not fully agreed to proceed to the second phase, which would involve the release of the remaining living hostages and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.
- Edan Alexander, an American hostage believed to be alive, is included in a proposed deal by US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff for the release of five living Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.
- Despite the uncertainty surrounding the release of the hostages and the deadlock in negotiations, Vicky Cohen, the mother of Nimrod Cohen, remains hopeful, trusting in US President Donald Trump's commitment to bring all hostages back, as she believes that's what he will do to stop the war between Israel and Palestine and potentially earn a Nobel Peace Prize.
