With a potential ceasefire deal in the Middle East, Ruby Chen, father of US-Israeli IDF soldier Itay Chen, about his efforts to bring the body of the 19-year-old home.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken had said the U.S. wanted a ceasefire deal in Gaza and all remaining captives released before Donald Trump takes office on Jan. 20.

Hamas took Oded and Yochke Lifschitz hostage. Forty-five days later, Yochke was released, but her husband was forced to stay.

Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire deal, mediators announced Wednesday, pausing a devastating 15-month war in the Gaza Strip and raising the possibility of winding down the deadliest and most destructive fighting between the bitter enemies.

The ceasefire between Hamas and Israel will go into effect in less than 24 hours, said Qatar’s foreign ministry on Saturday. In a post on X, Qatar’s foreign minister Majid al-Ansari,

After a brief holdup in the historic ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas, the two sides will now meet on Friday to ratify the deal.

Project Dynamo is a veteran-led organization that rescues Americans around the world. Back in 2023, they helped rescue nearly 400 American citizens from Israel.

President Joe Biden and his top diplomats, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken, had sought closure during his term.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Friday a deal to return hostages held in the Gaza Strip has been reached, after his office had said earlier there were last minute snags in finalizing a ceasefire that would pause 15 months of war.

Marking an end to more than 15 months of deadly conflict, Israel and Hamas reached a ceasefire deal on Wednesday.

Deputy national security adviser Jon Finer; Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif.; Steve Bannon, former strategist for President-elect Donald Trump; Jonathan Dekel-Chen and Gillian Kaye, parents of Israeli American held hostage by Hamas.