Families of Israelis held hostage in Gaza have told the BBC they are hopeful that US President Donald Trump's plan for ending the war will bring their loved ones home.
Viki Cohen, whose son Nimrod is among 20 hostages held in Gaza who are still believed to be alive, said she had woken on Saturday with a sense of hope and expectation, but also fear that something will go wrong.
It is a fragile situation and we don't want to be disappointed again. And yet I feel hope that soon I will see Nimrod and I can hug [him] again.
Nimrod, now aged 21, was a 19-year-old soldier when he was kidnapped by Hamas near the Gaza border in the 7 October 2023 attacks. In total, 251 people were taken hostage that day, and some 1,200 others were killed.
On Friday, Hamas agreed to release all the remaining Israeli hostages - living and dead - but said it wanted further negotiations on a number of key points outlined in the US peace plan.
After Hamas submitted its response, Trump posted on Truth Social I believe they are ready for a lasting PEACE, as he called on Israel to immediately stop the bombing of Gaza, so that we can get the Hostages out safely and quickly!
In a response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel was preparing to immediately implement the first phase of Trump's plan for the immediate release of all hostages.
Negotiations between Israel and Hamas are now expected to resume in Egypt soon.
On Saturday evening, tens of thousands of people gathered in Tel Aviv in support of the deal to end the war.
Crowds in Hostages Square broke out into chants as families of the hostages took to the stage to call for their return.
Einav Zangauker, whose son Matan is being held captive, screamed into the microphone, Netanyahu, don't take our oxygen and our hope. To you they're just hostages, but to me that's my boy. He's my life. The hostages are the beating heart of the country.
This sentiment resonates throughout the crowd as families reiterate their desperation and desire for action.
Earlier, Udi Goren, whose cousin Tal Haimi was killed in the October attacks, expressed hope for a positive outcome from the peace talks. >
His views were echoed by other families, many of whom feel emboldened by the unfolding developments but remain wary after past disappointments.
The future of the hostages hangs in the balance as negotiations progress, with both hope and fear dominating the discourse of their families.
