Israeli-American Hostage’s Father Calls for Ceasefire and Hostage Deal

Following the recovery of the bodies of six hostages held for nearly a year by Hamas in Gaza, the father of an Israeli-American still in captivity has intensified calls for an end to stalled cease-fire negotiations. Jonathan Dekel-Chen expressed his concerns during an appearance on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan,” highlighting that the Israeli government under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appears to be prioritizing personal political interests over the lives of the remaining hostages.

Dekel-Chen’s statements resonate with a growing sense of frustration among many Israelis who criticize Netanyahu and his administration as the conflict continues. He acknowledged the complexity of negotiating with Hamas, comparing it to “dealing with Satan.” He noted, “We have been extremely critical of the Israeli government for not negotiating in good faith now, for many, many months.” Dekel-Chen emphasized the absence of a reasonable explanation for the government’s reluctance to engage deeply in these negotiations, especially given that military and intelligence officials have been calling for an end to hostilities and the release of hostages.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported early Sunday that the remains of six hostages, including Israeli-American Hersh Goldberg-Polin, were found in Gaza. Among those still believed to be held are eight American citizens, including Dekel-Chen’s son, Sagui, who has three daughters, one of whom was born while he was in captivity. Dekel-Chen confirmed that as of late November or early December, his son was alive, albeit wounded.

On October 7, Hamas launched a surprise attack on southern Israel, killing over 1,000 people and seizing around 250 hostages, who were subsequently taken into Gaza. Many of these hostages remain unaccounted for amid the military operations that followed. A weeklong cease-fire in November facilitated the release of around 100 hostages, primarily women and children, while also providing a temporary pause to military actions and allowing for the release of some Palestinian prisoners.

Since that cease-fire, however, few hostages have been freed. Prior to the announcement of the recently recovered bodies, Israel had estimated that 101 hostages remained in Gaza, with about one-third presumed dead. Last month, the bodies of six other hostages were discovered, and eight hostages were rescued by Israeli forces, the latest of whom was found just last Tuesday.

The Israeli military’s earlier operations to free captives have resulted in significant Palestinian casualties. Hamas has indicated that some hostages were killed during Israeli airstrikes and failed rescue attempts. The IDF, in turn, claimed that their troops mistakenly killed three Israelis who had escaped captivity during the initial months of the conflict. In light of the recent discoveries, a group of families of hostages has called for a mass protest, demanding a complete cessation of military actions and the release of their loved ones.

Despite the pressure from families and the public, Netanyahu has insisted on continuing military efforts, asserting that the goal is to eradicate Hamas. Dekel-Chen remarked, “The vast majority of Israelis now believe that Netanyahu’s actions reveal his primary motivation is to maintain power within a narrow, radical coalition in the Israeli government.” He criticized Netanyahu for pursuing a “fantasy of total victory” over Hamas, a strategy seen by many as unrealistic and detrimental to the well-being of hostages.

In response to the ongoing humanitarian crisis, Hamas has proposed releasing the hostages in exchange for a halt to the military operations, the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza, and the release of more Palestinian prisoners. The Hamas-run Palestinian Health Ministry claims that over 40,000 Palestinians have been killed since the fighting began.

On Saturday, Netanyahu reiterated allegations that Hamas has obstructed cease-fire negotiations, stating, “Whoever murders hostages doesn’t want a deal,” and vowed to hold the group accountable for the deaths of prisoners.