Hostage families relieved as Israel-Hamas peace deal brings loved ones home

ASPEN HILL, Md. (DC News Now) — There’s cautious hope a peace deal between Israel and Hamas brokered by the Trump administration could lead to lasting peace in the region.

It’s a day many families have been praying for, especially those who had loved ones held hostage.

“Today is a very happy day,” said Boaz Atzili, an Israeli-American living in Aspen Hill, regarding the release of the 20 remaining living Israeli hostages who were reunited with their families Monday. Israel also freed some 1,900 Palestinian prisoners.

In a sit down interview with DC News Now, Boaz Atzili said he didn’t think this day would come, but he’s glad it did. A sense of closure was also felt for the families of hostages who didn’t survive, as their bodies are set to be returned home.

Boaz Atzili said Monday’s major announcement in the Middle East is a big first step.

“It’s a very important step. It’s a ceasefire at this point… it’s not even, like completely an end of the war,” he said.

He knows what many families in Israel are going through. On Oct. 7, 2023 his cousin, Aviv Atzili, was killed at his Kibbutz Nir Oz. His body was taken to Gaza and wasn’t recovered until four months ago, by the Israel Defense Forces.

“Kibbutz Nir Oz, about a quarter of the people of the Kibbutz were either killed or kidnapped,” Boaz Atzili said.

He’s also a professor of international relations at American University, who says the return of hostages could have happened much sooner and saved thousands of Palestinian lives.

“They actually could have been home much earlier, at least one year ago, when Hamas basically said that they’re willing to give everybody back in return for ending the war,” Boaz Atzili said. “We think that at least 44 of the hostages who were kidnaped alive were either, you know, murdered or killed by IDF bombardments or by disease.”

He places blame on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

“It’s a waste of life, of these hostages and of thousands and thousands of civilians in Gaza that were killed as well by Netanyahu’s policy,” he explained.

He said lasting peace won’t happen under the current Israeli government.

“A real peace will require a Palestinian state side by side with Israel,” Boaz Atzili said.

Boaz Atzili said that in the short term, President Trump has to continue constant pressure on both Hamas and other countries in the region, as well as Netanyahu, who he believes could still sabotage any deal.