Hostage families fear ‘Russian roulette' offered by ceasefire talks

ITV News

09-07-2025

For almost two years, the families of hostages held in Gaza have been desperately hoping that their loved ones will be released.
So one might imagine that growing rumours of a ceasefire and hostage exchange between Hamas and Israel would be welcome news.
But at an event in London calling for more international action to free those captured, the response from families is more trepidation than celebration.
The Israeli government believes that there are 20 living hostages still in Gaza but sources indicate that only 10 would likely be released as part of any ceasefire agreement.
'You know, it's like a game' sais Galia David, whose son Evyatar is in captivity.
'Like a lottery?' I ask her.
'Like Russian Roulette' is her response.
Evyatar was 22-years-old when he was abducted from the Nova music festival during the October 7 attacks.
In home videos and photos, he looks his age: healthy, happy and with a full head of curly hair.
It's a far cry from the most recent video his family has seen of him.
Released earlier this year, it shows Evyatar, looking gaunt with a shaven head, being taken to the handover ceremony of another hostage.
In an act of psychological torture, he is forced to beg for his own release.
Four months on and he is still being held captive.
Despite the chance that her son could be amongst the 10 potentially being released, she - as with all the other families - is insistent that all the hostages need to be released at the same time.
Otherwise, they fear that a handful could remain as collateral for years on end.
Bipin Joshi's family worry that he may be far down the list when it comes to an exchange.
He is a Nepalese citizen, with no family in Israel. His country has little international clout.
Joshi had only arrived in Israel three weeks before he was kidnapped, as part of an international program providing agricultural training to young people from rural Nepal.
Adi Radai has been helping to advocate on his behalf because his family don't speak English or Hebrew.
'They don't understand the conflict and it's heartbreaking,' said Adi. 'They just want their son back.'
The timing of this event in London is co-incidental. It was delayed because all flights in and out of Israel were cancelled as a result of missile strikes from Iran.
The families want to make clear that they aren't politicians - all they are interested in is the return of their loved ones.
But they believe that will only happen when there is a permanent end to the fighting and a proper peace agreement, rather than a ceasefire.
And even that is uncertain.