The latest round of hostage negotiations has hit a critical snag over who qualifies for humanitarian release, with sources saying the deal could be delayed until Trump's official presidency begins on January 20 - a revelation that has sent shockwaves through families of the captives.
Omer Wenkert, 23, was kidnapped from the Nova festival on October 7th. He suffers from severe colitis. His case has become a flashpoint in the complex negotiations, highlighting the brutal intersection of medical necessity and political bargaining.
"What international law permits holding a sick civilian captive?" his mother Niva demanded in an appeal to Israel's Security Cabinet, brandishing new medical assessments. "My son is being held without his medication, with a grenade in his stomach, and his captors are deciding who's sick?"
According to Prof. Chaim Shirin, head of the Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Wenkert faces severe risks without treatment. The young man's condition could deteriorate rapidly, potentially leading to life-threatening complications including internal bleeding and bowel perforation.
The broader deal framework, as reported by Egypt's Al-Rad channel, envisions significant changes: Israeli withdrawal from most of the Philadelphi Corridor, Palestinian management of the Rafah crossing under the 2005 agreement terms, and the phased release of hostages - specifically the sick, elderly, and women - in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.
Although there is clear progress, the main dispute centers on the number of living hostages to be released. Also, Hamas has yet to provide a complete list of surviving captives, a prerequisite for any agreement.
For families marking day 444 of captivity, these delays carry unbearable weight. "We're watching headlines that seem promising, but my optimism is cracking," says Yamit Ashkenazi, sister of captive Doron Steinbrecher. "Every delay means more hostages coming home in coffins instead of alive."
The deal has also exposed deep political fissures. When MK Simcha Rothman (Religious Zionism) spoke against certain aspects of the negotiation, Ruby Chen, father of captured IDF Sergeant Itay Chen, accused him of "using bereaved families" to oppose the deal.
In Doha, where Israeli negotiators led by a senior Mossad official continue talks, a U.S. official suggested Hamas appears motivated to reach agreement before potential changes in American leadership.
Ynet contributed to this article.
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