The families of hostages held in Gaza have expressed a mixture of relief and cautious optimism following Hamas's conditional acceptance of President Donald Trump's Gaza plan. The proposal aims to establish a ceasefire in exchange for the release of all remaining Israeli captives.

“We are holding for hope that this will end,” said one family member, reflecting the shared sentiment of many who have endured nearly two years of anguish since their loved ones were taken. "We want our lives back. We want our normal daily life back. We want the region to heal," she added.

The families' statement comes after Hamas announced that it agrees to release all Israeli hostages if certain conditions are met, but seeks further negotiations on clauses concerning Gaza's future governance, Israeli withdrawal, and its own role. The group's response to the 20-point plan included agreeing “to release all occupation captives – both living and the remains of the deceased - according to the exchange formula contained in President Trump's proposal” if proper conditions are met.

Trump, who presented the plan alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on Monday, has urged Israel to halt bombing Gaza. He stated that Hamas was "ready for a lasting peace" and that discussions on the details are already underway.

The proposed plan outlines several key demands, including an immediate ceasefire, an exchange of all remaining captives for Palestinian prisoners, the introduction of a transitional government led by an international body, and the disarmament of Hamas. The plan also stipulates that Gaza will be a "deradicalized terror-free zone" and will be redeveloped for the benefit of its residents.

While Hamas has agreed to the hostage release, it has expressed reservations about other aspects of the plan, particularly those concerning the future governance of Gaza. The group has rejected the proposed "Board of Peace," an international transitional body chaired by Trump, viewing it as an external form of control. Hamas also insists on a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza and proposes handing over control of Gaza to “a Palestinian body of independents (technocrats), based on Palestinian national consensus and Arab and Islamic support,” rather than following the US blueprint directly.

Despite these points of contention, the families of the hostages are clinging to the hope that this agreement will finally bring their loved ones home. "There isn't any time," one family member said. "We're almost marking two years. The hostages must be back, and the suffering of everyone here in Gaza. It's time to end this horrific war and bring every single hostage back home," she added.

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum has called for a mass display of solidarity, urging the public to attend rallies and demand the government do everything possible to bring the hostages home. "This is the hour when all of Israel must stand together and demand loudly: do everything possible to bring our brothers and sisters home," the Forum stated.

International reactions to Hamas's response have been largely positive, with Egypt, Qatar, and the United Nations welcoming the decision. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has urged all parties to "seize the opportunity to bring the tragic conflict in Gaza to an end".

Despite the cautious optimism, challenges remain. Hamas has made it clear that several provisions related to Gaza's political future and Palestinian rights require additional talks before acceptance. The group also seeks guarantees that it will have a role in Gaza's future governance.

Negotiations are expected to continue in Cairo, with representatives from Hamas, Israel, the United States, and Arab nations participating. The talks aim to finalize the details of the hostage release and address the outstanding issues related to the future of Gaza.

As the negotiations proceed, the families of the hostages remain hopeful that a resolution can be reached swiftly. "We are very grateful for President Trump for his initiative," one family member said. "We're very grateful for all the moderate Arab countries that are within this...and we're very hopeful that leadership all over the world, especially the one in the US and Israel, will make sure that this is happening," she added.