Israel, Hamas reach Gaza ceasefire deal, release hostages – live updates

Lucy Manning
Special correspondent

We were with Sharone Lifschitz in east London when news of a deal broke. His father, Oded, 84, is still held hostage. His mother Yocheved was released in October 2023.

Sharone was tearful but realistic as she is aware that although the next few weeks will be a time of joy for some families, other families will discover that their loved ones are no longer alive.

“It seems like a bit of common sense to me,” she says, adding: “I know the chances for my father are very slim.

“He’s an old man, but miracles happen. My mother has come back, and one way or another, we’ll know. We’ll know if he’s still with us, if we can take care of him .We’ll find out…my dad didn’t do it. I don’t deserve this.”

She adds: “There are more graves to come and traumatized people to come back, but we will take care of them and make them see the light again… may this be the start of something better.

“It will be amazing to see the mothers kissing their children and the children kissing their fathers and we will know who we are crying for.”