One day after Yahya Sinwar, the leader of Hamas, was killed by Israeli troops during a patrol in southern Gaza, Israel announced it was sending another military unit into the rubble-strewn neighbourhoods of Jabalia, in the north of the strip, releasing video of the staging of tanks and troops.
It was hardly a sign of de-escalation nor a step toward a ceasefire deal that would free the 101 hostages still in Gaza — at least half of whom Israeli officials believe are still alive.
The families of the hostages hope Sinwar’s death can be the catalyst needed to secure a deal to free their loved ones, but for some, any optimism is tainted by the grave situation in which the captives remain and what appears to have been the Israeli government’s priorities over the past year.
“It’s been 378 days and [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu] says he has always been focused on the hostages, and yet he hasn’t taken the deals that have been on the table,” said Abbey Onn, whose cousin, Ofer Kalderon, 53, is still being held in Gaza.
“This moment becomes something if it’s leveraged, to bring the hostages home.”
When Netanyahu released a recorded statement on Thursday evening announcing the death of Sinwar, who was seen as the architect of the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks on Israel and one of the Israeli’s military’s main targets, he said that the country was committed to doing everything to bring the hostages home.
But the prime minister went on to say that the Israeli military would continue with “full force” until all of the hostages are released.
It was the same kind of language and tone that he has used throughout the past year, during which numerous attempts to pull together ceasefire deals fell flat.
Both sides appear to be dug in
As Israel sends more tanks and soldiers into the city of Jabalia, where officials say the military has killed dozens of militants over the past two weeks, a Qatar-based senior Hamas official said no hostages would be released until the Israel Defence Forces withdraw from Gaza and Palestinian prisoners are released from custody in Israel.
The official, Khalil Al-Hayya, vowed that Sinwar’s death would motivate and embolden Palestinians and that the Hamas movement would continue along the path of “leaders and martyrs.”
With both sides seemingly dug in to continue the war, Abbey Onn said she’s hoping the international community, particularly the United States and Qatar, dial up the pressure to push for a deal.
Abbey Onn — whose cousin Ofer Kalderon was taken to Gaza on Oct. 7, 2023, and was last seen alive by his daughter more than 300 days ago — says it’s time to push for a deal to free hostages after the killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar. ‘We need international pressure.’
“If we understand correctly, Sinwar was what was standing in the way of that deal,” she said in an interview with CBC News in Jerusalem. “We need everyone sitting at the table saying now is our opportunity.”
Onn’s cousin was taken hostage along with two of his four children. Erez Kalderon, 12, and Sahar Kalderon, 17, were released as a part of the initial pause in fighting in November 2023, that led to the release of 105 hostages from Gaza in exchange for 240 imprisoned Palestinians.
Onn said Sahar saw her father before she was released and barely recognized him because he had lost so much weight.
“He was happy that she was leaving. But he said, ‘Please don’t forget me. I don’t want to die here.’ And that was the last that we know.”
Onn said she was heartbroken when it was revealed last month that six of the hostages had been shot and killed by militants, describing the pain as being even worse than on Oct. 7.
“To know that those families fought as hard as they did and to know that that was avoidable in many ways.”
Hostages overshadowed by fighting
After Israel announced that Sinwar, who officials say had spent most of the war underground, was killed in Rafah, some Israelis waved flags in the street and cheered.
Nimrod Novik, a fellow with the Israel Policy Forum who previously worked as a senior adviser to former Israeli prime minister Shimon Peres, said when he heard the news, his immediate thought was that justice had been served, but his second thought was about the captives in Gaza.
Like others, he said he worries that Hamas could retaliate by executing those who are still alive.
Novik said despite the nearly daily protests by the families of hostages and their supporters, the issue has been overshadowed in recent weeks by Israel’s new offensive in Lebanon, along with the barrage of ballistic missiles from Iran.
But after Sinwar’s death, he said, the fate of the hostages is once again top of mind, and he believes Netanyahu has picked up on growing public pressure.
Whether he acts on it is another thing.
“Is this what Netanyahu needs in order to change course and do what is necessary to end the war and bring the hostages back home?” Novik said in an interview with CBC News in Ra’anana, Israel.
“I’m afraid that his list of priorities is somewhat different.”
Nimrod Novik, a fellow with Israel Policy Forum, says he feels ‘justice was served’ in Israel’s killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar. But he has concerns for the hostages still alive in Gaza — and doesn’t think this victory will be enough for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
‘People need to start living again’
Novik said he wants to see Netanyahu accept the previous ceasefire deal that was on the table but never agreed to. However, he fears the Israeli leader will not give up on the war in Gaza in order to appease his right-wing coalition government.
Ayala Metzger shares the same fear.
Her in-laws, Tami and Yoram Metzger, were taken hostage from Kibbutz Nir Oz on Oct. 7, 2023. Tami was released in the November truce, but Yoram, 80, was confirmed dead in June. In August, Israeli troops retrieved his body from Gaza.
After Sinwar’s death was announced, Metzger heard from other family remembers in a group chat who expressed a mix of hope and dread.
“The families are really afraid that [the government] will miss this opportunity,” she told CBC News from Tel Aviv.
Metzger said she feels terrible about the mounting death toll in Gaza, where according to officials more than 42,000 people have been killed.
On top of that, with humanitarian agencies now warning about inadequate food, she said she worries about starvation among the hostages and Palestinians.
“It’s really bad,” she said. “We need to finish [the war]. People need to start living again. Both sides.”