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Families of Israeli citizens held hostage in Gaza have expressed hope that the US President's plan for ending the war will bring their loved ones back safely.

One mother, whose child her son is among 20 captives still believed to be surviving in Gaza, said she awakened on Saturday with a feeling of "hope and anticipation", but also "fear that something will fall through".

"This represents a delicate situation and we don't want to be let down again. And yet I feel hope that in the near future I will be reunited with Nimrod and I can hug him again."

The young man, now aged 21, was a teenage soldier when he was kidnapped by Hamas near the Gaza border during the October 7th attacks. Overall, two hundred fifty-one individuals were taken hostage that date, and approximately 1,200 people were fatally wounded.

Latest Developments

On Friday, the group consented to release all the remaining Israeli hostages - including living and dead - but stated it required additional discussions on multiple key points detailed in the American peace plan.

After Hamas submitted its response, the US President posted on Truth Social "I believe they are ready for a enduring PEACE", as he called on Israel to "immediately stop the airstrikes of the territory, so that we can get the Hostages out securely and promptly!"

In a response overnight, Israel's leader Netanyahu said Israel was "preparing to immediately implement the initial stage of the President's plan for the prompt freedom of all hostages".

Relative Responses

Udi Goren, whose relative a family member was fatally injured in the October 7th attacks and remains taken to the coastal territory where it remains, said he was optimistic that a deal would be reached.

"It appears the US leader putting his foot down and getting everybody behind him, encompassing the Arab countries and the Israel's leader," he said. "We need to make sure that there exists a improved future for Israeli people and Palestinians. At this moment is the time for deeds, not for talk."

His views were shared by other captive families on the weekend.

In a declaration, the relatives of hostage Eitan Horn said that for "initially in numerous long and painful periods, our feelings allow hope that the release of their relative - and of all 47 captives [living and deceased] - may ultimately be imminent. That soon, they will come home".

However, they added: "Our hope is moderated by great fear."

"Before they return, they remain starved, tortured and in continuous danger of fatal injury."

Previous Chances

Gil Dickman described he understood too well what it meant to miss a opportunity for a truce deal.

His cousin Carmel Gat was captured from Kibbutz Be'eri and her body recovered from a tunnel in the region months afterward. The Israeli military said she and five other hostages had been fatally injured shortly before its soldiers arrived at them.

"What we saw recently is that Hamas gave an response - they had certain acceptances with Trump's proposal and some disagreements, but the crucial aspect for me is that they're willing to go through with this," he said. "We've had so many additional chances previously that were lost" but this is a "extremely important phase in the procedure… and maybe gets us close to ending this war concluded."

Negotiations between Israeli officials and the organization are now anticipated to restart in Egypt in the near future.