The son of an Israeli hostage whose body remains in Gaza has told the BBC he is grappling with the reality that it's not over and it's going to be a longer battle. Rotem Cooper, whose father Amiram is among 24 hostages whose remains were not returned to Israel during the latest negotiations, spoke of the emotional strain faced by families hoping for resolution.
In an appeal for action, Cooper called on US President Donald Trump, as well as other key negotiators including Qatar and Egypt, to demonstrate to Hamas that the current situation is unacceptable. The ceasefire and hostage release agreement signed between Israel and Hamas established a deadline for the return of hostages, alongside a release of nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners by Israel.
Although 20 hostages were released last week, the agreement acknowledged that not all bodies could be accounted for by the deadline, leading to disappointment among families who had pinned their hopes on recovering their loved ones. Cooper noted, We hoped and expected that maybe 15 to 20 out of the 28 deceased hostages would be released, but that didn't happen. Only four were announced. This sentiment of longing was echoed among families as they absorbed the news of partial resolution.
Cooper's mother was released, but his father was killed during captivity, prompting him to describe the continued wait for closure as heartbreaking. He even attended the military base where the released hostages arrived, feeling a mix of joy and sorrow upon their return.
Other family members, like Ruby Chen, expressed similar frustrations, yearning for more bodies to be returned alongside the living hostages. Chen called for sustained pressure on Hamas to return all those still unaccounted for, as families navigate the dualities of relief and sorrow.
In conclusion, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum has urged the Israeli government to escalate their response to what they deem Hamas's violations of the agreement, emphasizing that future stages of the peace plan should not progress until every remaining body is returned. The emotional journey of these families continues as they seek resolution in the conflict.
