They had reason to believe they had made significant progress. Biden said he had shared the outline of an Israeli proposal, which included language close to Hamas' demand for a permanent ceasefire. Hamas initially responded positively to the US president's remarks.
Four days later, hostage families are growing increasingly concerned that the latest proposal will fail. Far-right members of the Israeli coalition have threatened to topple the government if Israel agrees to end the war without defeating Hamas, and Hamas has not formally agreed to Biden's proposal.
The latest impasse has intensified feelings among the hostages' families that they are on a never-ending rollercoaster ride, perpetuating a vicious cycle of rising hopes for an agreement only to be disappointed.
“It's incredibly frustrating to go through this yo-yo again,” said Lee Siegel, brother of Israeli-American hostage Keith Siegel, 65. “With each passing day, it gets harder and harder to hold on to hope.”
Hostage advocates warn that the situation for the hostages is becoming more precarious by the day, especially for the elderly and sick, and fear that without a deal, most of the hostages in Gaza will not survive to return to Israel.
“Everyone is scared that they will get a call from the authorities saying they have found their family members dead,” said Giri Roman, the brother of Yarden Roman Gat, who was released in November. Roman Gat's sister-in-law, Carmel Gat, 40, remains in Gaza detention, Israel said.
The Israeli military said on Monday it had concluded that four hostages had been killed in the Khan Yunis area several months ago.
As concerns grow among hostage families, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is considering whether to go ahead with the proposals presented to him, facing conflicting pressures: With the international community calling for a ceasefire and Israel further isolated, the domestic right-wing alliance he has relied on to stay in power rejects any deal that ends the war without removing Hamas.
Further pressure is coming from the hostages' families, but some have lost hope that Israeli protests will force Netanyahu into a deal and believe only relentless US pressure will get the deal done.
“The United States should not leave Netanyahu alone for even a moment until he signs an agreement – not even a moment,” said Gilad Korngold, the father of hostage Tal Shoham, a 39-year-old from northern Israel. “That's what needs to happen.”
Korngold said three members of his family were killed on October 7 and six others who had been abducted were released during a brief ceasefire in late November.
Israeli officials say the proposal presented by Biden is broadly consistent with a new proposal approved by Israel's war cabinet, but Netanyahu has refused to end the war without destroying Hamas's governing and military capabilities.
Biden said if Hamas followed his proposals, it would ultimately lead to a “permanent cessation of hostilities.”
But Korngold also said Washington, through Qatar, needed to put firm pressure on Hamas to approve the deal.
“Hamas hasn't said no, but it hasn't said yes either,” he said. “Hamas has to get the message.”
Hamas officials said it was Israel's responsibility to agree to a ceasefire and rejected U.S. urging them to approve the proposal.
As time passed, Siegel said she became increasingly worried about her younger brother, especially after he was diagnosed with high blood pressure last year.
“His absence weighs heavy on our hearts every minute, every hour, every day,” he said. “Every day that he's not here could be his last.”