Israel and Hamas have reached a hostage and ceasefire deal. The remaining Israeli hostages who have been held in Gaza since Oct. 7, 2023, will be released.
The news was met in Israel and in Gaza with celebrations. People danced in Hostage Square in Tel Aviv and in Gaza. Around the world, Jews and Israelis have welcomed the news – but not without trepidation.
“I think it’s the same feeling as I have dealt with every other hostage deal: Holding my breath, feeling incredibly anxious until it actually happens,” said Lainey Richler.
While the news was lauded, many, even those celebrating, were expressing a sober hope.
“Until this becomes a reality, there is a lot of uncertainty,” she said. “Excitement mixed with anxiety. I guess just a lot of hope that something truly good will come out of this situation.”
Complex feelings are coming to the surface for many Israelis as a promise for an end to the war nears.
The deal will see the release of the hostages in 72 hours, a partial withdrawal of the IDF, and a boost in aid. Not every detail of the 20-point peace plan has been finalized, including the post-war management of Gaza.
“I’ve forgotten what it feels like to not worry daily and nightly about our brothers and sisters,” said Illan Goldman.
The deal has allowed many to begin to reflect on the difficulty and stress of the last two years and the difficulties to come.
“Alongside this powerful sense of joy, there is also a heavy sadness that is impossible to ignore,” said Ifat Lahyani. “I keep thinking about the funerals that will still take place, about the families who will now face an unbearable loss — and my heart breaks for them. There is a certain comfort in knowing that the fallen will be brought to their final rest, but I wish we had never reached this point at all.”
Even with the hope that is impossible to escape for many, it is mixed with the sadness and stress of being separated from friends and family back in Israel.
“This is also one of the most difficult moments for me as an Israeli living far from home,” Lahyani said. “At times like this, the longing becomes overwhelming. My heart aches to be there — standing at intersections wrapped in Israeli flags, gathering in Hostage Square, embracing strangers who feel like family. These are the moments when you most want to be physically present — to cry, to sing, to celebrate, and to mourn together.”
While the hostage deal is a rare bright spot since Oct. 7, to Rabbi Ezra Goldschmiedt this is the time to allow ourselves to feel the joy of this moment. He reflected on when he was in Israel for a previous and watched Arbel Yahoud, Agam Berger, and Gadi Moses be returned to Israel in Hostage Square in Tel Aviv.
“Together with hundreds of Israelis, we saw footage of hostages coming home and embracing their families; there was such a palpable joy in that space!” said Goldschmiedt. “Most importantly, that joy was contained among the masses, whom I’m sure had a wide range of opinions about the terms of that deal. Nonetheless, all of those people were there together to simply cheer and appreciate that we brought a few more of our brothers and sisters home. It didn’t matter at that moment that there could be a terrible cost to pay later, everyone was there to just feel the joy of family coming home. That’s what I think we all need to feel right now.”
And for many in Israel and here in Cincinnati, this hostage and ceasefire deal makes them hopeful for the future.
“Finally having a deal that will bring the hostages home and end the war is a major relief,” said Rabbi Ari Jun, “I pray that this will open a path to a more enduring peace between Israelis and Palestinians.”
For Ifat Lahyani, this moment is like the story of Israel itself.
“In many ways, this week reflects the very essence of Israel’s story,” she said. “On Sunday, we will rejoice as the hostages return home. On Monday, we will grieve deeply as we lay the fallen to rest. It reminds me of the profound transition between Yom HaZikaron (Memorial Day) and Yom Ha’atzmaut (Independence Day): one day we cry for those who gave their lives for the country, and the next we celebrate the miracle of its existence and resilience. Joy and sorrow coexist side by side — two halves of the same national soul.”
