As Iran-Israel ceasefire holds, kin of Gaza hostages demand their return

As a shaky Iran-Israel ceasefire holds, Israel’s Hostage Families Forum is demanding any deal with Iran must free dozens of hostages held by Iran-backed Hamas militants in Gaza since their October 7, 2023 attack.

“The ceasefire agreement (with Iran) must expand to include Gaza,” the group said in a statement on Tuesday.

“We call on the government to engage in urgent negotiations that will bring home all the hostages and ends the war. Those who can achieve a ceasefire with Iran can also end the war in Gaza.”

Of the 251 people abducted on October 7, around 50 remain in Gaza. Only 20 are believed to be alive.

“To conclude this decisive operation against Iran without leveraging it to bring home the hostages would be a grave failure,” the statement continued. “With our enemies at their weakest, this is a critical window—the deal to end all deals.”

The US continues to mediate between the two sides. In an interview on Fox News, Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff said late on Tuesday that talks were promising and that Washington was hopeful for a long-term peace deal.

"We are already talking to each other, not just directly but also through interlocutors," Witkoff said.

Iranian losses

After a surprise attack on June 13, Israel assassinated some of Iran's top military leadership and nuclear scientists and pounded Iranian military infrastructure.

During the 12-day conflict, 29 Israelis and 610 Iranians were killed, according to official figures. Thousands more have been injured and displaced on both sides.

The ceasefire has drawn mixed reactions in Israel as US intelligence says Iran's nuclear program has only been set back by a matter of weeks or months and its enriched uranium supply remains intact.

President Donald Trump downplayed the claims, saying the US strikes have "obliterated" the three sites struck, Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan.

“Trump just wants this over quickly so he can claim he made peace,” said Zvi Tuito, a Jaffa resident whose home was damaged in strikes last week. “He needs to calm opposition in his party and boost his ratings, but I don’t think it’s over.”

Polls in Israel showed consistent support for the war among Jewish Israelis, though much less so among the 20% Arab minority.

'We can't go on like this'

Iran has long backed militant groups under its so-called ‘axis of resistance,’ pledging solidarity with the Palestinian cause. Since October 7, Israel has come under attack from Iranian allies in Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, and Iraq.

“We can’t go on like this,” said Ilanit Neiman of Ramat Gan, a suburb of Tel Aviv which has been hit by rockets. “To stop this forever war, we need to cut off the source of weapons and funding—Iran.”

She was skeptical about the ceasefire’s durability. “We need to know this deal brings real security. Otherwise, we’ll be back here in months.”

As Israel's military campaign in Gaza continues - and 7 soldiers died since the Iran ceasefire took effect - some Israelis see the ceasefire with Iran as a gateway to broader peace.

“This has to be a comprehensive deal,” said a mother whose son is still fighting. “His wife and kids want him home. We’re in the best position in years—let’s not waste it.”

But even diplomats are unsure what comes next.

“Nothing is clear. Everything feels very fragile,” said one Israeli ambassador, speaking to Iran International minutes before an Iranian missile strike followed the ceasefire announcement.

Another said: “These are crazy days. We really can’t predict a thing.”