Families of Israeli captives fear Trump's Gaza plan could derail their release

Families of Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Gaza fear that former U.S. President Donald Trump's plan to control the Gaza Strip and expel Palestinians to other countries could undermine ceasefire agreements and dash any chance of their release. The families are concerned that Trump's plan might compel Hamas to abandon the agreements already reached, thereby endangering the lives of the hostages.

Yehuda Cohen, the father of Israeli soldier Nimrod Cohen held captive, revealed to Middle East Eye that he and other families of Israeli hostages in Gaza are generally worried that Trump's plan could force Hamas to abandon the agreement. Cohen stated that any discussion about the "post-Gaza era" should be postponed, as it could trigger concerns within Hamas, leading to the interruption of the process.

Cohen also criticized the Israeli government for potentially exploiting the situation for its own narrow interests, catering to certain factions, and prioritizing a particular ideology over its fundamental duty to protect the lives of Israeli civilians and soldiers. "Our terrible government... will use this to satisfy its narrow interests, to please (Finance Minister Bezalel) Smotrich, and in practice once again place a very—what we call racist—ideology above its fundamental duty to ensure the lives of Israeli civilians and soldiers."

Trump, speaking alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier this week, stated that his administration would "take over" the Gaza Strip, relocate local residents to other places, and transform the region into the "Riviera of the Middle East." Trump reiterated this outlandish statement on Thursday, claiming that Palestinians in Gaza would be "relocated to safer, more beautiful communities." To appease his "America First" supporters, he also stated that he would not send American soldiers to the Palestinian territory.

A senior Israeli government official, who wished to remain anonymous, told Haaretz that it is currently unclear how Hamas will respond to this statement. The official stated, "What good does it do Hamas to release all the hostages now? They know that their conditions for ending the war will not be accepted." Israel's Channel 13 reported that the vast majority of Israelis welcome Trump's proposal, with as many as 72% supporting the idea.

Cohen told Middle East Eye that while he personally disagrees with the proposal, the U.S. should first try to release the remaining 42 Israeli hostages believed to be alive. He said, "Let's do it in stages. You (the U.S. and Trump) have policies regarding Gaza and the post-Gaza era, that's your privilege, that's fine, but let's first complete the work of releasing the hostages, complete the agreement, and not allow any potential failures, whether from the Hamas side or from our government's side."

The ceasefire in Gaza has brought much-needed respite to the region's 2.3 million Palestinians, ending a 15-month war that has claimed tens of thousands of lives, displaced most of the population, and pushed the entire region to the brink of war. Under the ceasefire agreement, Hamas will release 33 hostages in Gaza in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, many of whom are serving time in Israel. So far, 13 Israelis and 5 Thai workers have been released, and 3 more Israelis are expected to be released this Saturday.

Netanyahu postponed sending a negotiating team to participate in the second phase of negotiations last week, reportedly waiting until he returned from Washington before taking action. Speaking alongside Trump, Netanyahu vowed to continue the war until Hamas no longer controls Gaza and to resume fighting if necessary. Netanyahu has outlined his three major priorities for Gaza in multiple statements, with the hostage issue only ranking second.

Cohen stated that the most important part of Trump's speech this week was his intention to complete the hostage agreement. "All in all, we are grateful for this and place our hopes on Trump, and we will not criticize him, at least not directly. But we will say: let's complete the first, second, and third stages," he said. "Let all the hostages be released, and let the ceasefire turn into a complete cessation of hostilities. After that, we can implement policies on the post-era of Gaza, whether it's letting the Palestinian Authority enter there, or Trump's ideas. Let him do as he pleases, but first let's complete the first stage, which is releasing all the hostages."