A ceasefire and hostage agreement between Israel and Hamas has sparked cautious optimism among families of British citizens who were killed or taken hostage during the Israel-Hamas conflict. While welcoming the deal as a potential breakthrough, grieving relatives insist that true closure will only come when every hostage is safely returned.
Stephen Brisley, whose sister Lianne Sharabi and her daughters Noiya and Yahel were murdered, spoke of the emotional toll of the conflict. His brother-in-law, Eli Sharabi, remains a hostage, and Brisley admits to feeling wary after enduring “so many false dawns.”
Similarly, Ayelet Svatitzky, whose brothers Roi and Nadav Popplewell were killed, expressed a sense of relief at the deal but emphasised the lingering worry. Svatitzky’s mother, Channah Peri, was taken hostage and later released. Speaking from Israel, she told the PA news agency: “We’ve been praying for a deal to be signed, and every hostage being released is a relief for them, for the families, and for us.”
However, she stressed that for her family, the loss is irreparable. “Of course, it’s too late for my brothers; we will never be able to save them. We were able to bring them for burial, and so we know how crucial it is for all hostages to be brought back alive. The live hostages need to be released to their families to start the healing and rehabilitating process,” Svatitzky said.
When asked if the ceasefire brings any sense of closure, Svatitzky replied, “There will never be any closure for us until all the hostages are back. We’ll be worried, and we’re not able to move on until the last hostage is home.”
The agreement, brokered through extensive negotiations in Qatar, promises the release of hostages held by Hamas in exchange for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli custody. However, details of the implementation, including the timeline and order of releases, remain uncertain, leaving families in a state of apprehension.
Brisley shared his mixed emotions as news of the agreement broke. “It’s difficult to process after waiting so long for this. When it finally comes or seems to have come, it’s kind of difficult to know how to react and how to feel, really. But I am cautiously optimistic,” he said.
He described the past 48 hours as an emotional rollercoaster, glued to updates from Gaza and Israel. “I think this afternoon, when it’s really landed, it’s still difficult to believe that it’s happening. Because there have been so many false dawns, there’s still that part of me that isn’t really allowing myself to believe it, despite the formal announcement,” Brisley said.
He voiced concerns about potential delays in the agreement’s implementation. “We still don’t know exactly what the framework of it is, exactly what the rate is they’ll be released, in what order, and if it is spread out over six weeks. Six weeks is a long time; a lot can happen. There are still many moving parts that could very easily fall apart.”
Adding to the uncertainty is the unknown fate of his brother-in-law. “We don’t even know if he’s alive,” Brisley admitted.
If a reunion were possible, Brisley fears the emotional toll on his brother-in-law, who may not yet know that his wife and daughters are dead. “My concern is that the hope of being reunited with them is what’s been keeping him going. Finding out that he’s coming back to nothing is what could break him,” he said.
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Despite the uncertainty, Brisley remains focused on supporting his brother-in-law if he is returned. “I just want to be able to put my arms around him and tell him that he’ll be OK, and that he can carry on. Him coming out alive and rebuilding his life, with us helping him, is the one crumb of comfort that our family has been holding on to.”
The ceasefire offers a rare glimmer of hope amidst one of the most devastating conflicts in recent memory. Yet for families like the Svatitzkys and Brisleys, the pain of loss and the uncertainty surrounding hostages leave wounds that will take much longer to heal. As they continue to advocate for the return of every hostage, their message is clear: “There is no closure until the last hostage is home.”
