In KFAR SAVA, Israel, Jan 16 (Reuters) - The recent news of Israel and Hamas striking a deal after 15 months of conflict is bittersweet for Ruth Strum. While one of her sons is expected to be freed, a second will remain in captivity, at least for now.
Expressing her emotional turmoil, Strum, wearing a red t-shirt adorned with photos of her two robust sons and the plea: "Bring Iair and Eitan home," shared, "It is not easy for a mother to hear this."
Though unaware of their exact location in the heavily bombarded Gaza Strip, Strum believes her sons have been kept together. Anticipating the inevitable separation, she worried, "But what will happen at the moment when they will be separated and told that one is coming out and one is not?" Her voice quivered as she expressed, "I know that their strength is to be together, to be there for each other."
The saga unfolded when 38-year-old Eitan Horn and his 46-year-old brother, Iair Horn, were taken captive during an attack by Hamas on southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, from Iair's home in Kibbutz Nir Oz, near the Gaza border.
While 98 hostages remain in captivity, under the terms of the recent ceasefire, only 33 will be released in the next six weeks, including specific categories like women, children, and the sick or injured. This raises concerns about Iair's well-being, as no information about his health has been disclosed.
Since the abduction of her sons, Ruth has clung to fragments of information, cherishing the last confirmation of their well-being during a brief truce in November 2023 when released hostages reported seeing the brothers alive.
Expressing her longing, Ruth revealed, "I talk to them aloud all the time, as though they were still with me." She pleads with them to endure a little longer and assures them they will soon reunite with the family.
Despite the challenges, Ruth remains optimistic and fervently campaigns for the release of all hostages, urging Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to take decisive action.
As she envisions the moment of reunion with both sons, Ruth poignantly shared, "I picture us together in the hospital, that I'll be able to give them everything they need." She added, "I’m waiting for that embrace."