Father of Israeli-American hostage ‘in the dark’ despite ceasefire deal

The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The father of one of the approximately 100 hostages being held in Gaza by Hamas is still “in the dark” about the fate of his son, despite Israel and the militant group reaching a ceasefire and prisoner release deal to bring about the end of the brutal conflict. Before he was captured, Sagui, described by his father as a “builder and a creator”, was up early tinkering on his hobby, converting old vehicles into mobile projects like food markets and digital classrooms to serve under-resourced communities in southern Israel, the professor told The Independent in 2023. open image in gallery Jonathan Dekel-Chen is uncertain about the fate of his son, Hamas hostage Sagui Dekel-Chen, despite recently announced ceasefire deal Sagui helped alert his fellow kibbutz residents when he saw heavily armed Hamas fighters entering the area. open image in gallery Sagui Dekel-Chen tried to alert residents of kibbutz Nir Oz to October 7 Hamas attack before he was captured “In terms of the order in which they come out and which phase, there’s no way for families to know at this point, certainly of males, of when their loved ones may be coming out,” he said. open image in gallery Israeli and American families of hostages held by Hamas have long pushed for the governments involved in the conflict to reach a ceasefire deal and bring the captives home “This is a significant step forward that brings us closer to seeing all hostages return - the living to rehabilitation, and the deceased for proper burial,” the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, a group representing the families, said in a statement.