WITH OUR MARY SALADNA TONIGHT. MARY. YEAH, WELL, MARIA TALKS TO SECURE A CEASE FIRE. DO CONTINUE. BUT A DEAL IS NOW IN DOUBT AFTER HAMAS REJECTED THE CURRENT PROPOSAL, DEMANDING ADDITIONAL TERMS OF ITS OWN. WE ALL BELIEVE, EVE, THAT HE IS ALIVE. WE ALL BELIEVE HE WILL COME HOME. JASON GREENBERG IS DETERMINED TO HOLD ON, TO HOPE THAT HIS COUSIN, OFER WILL BE RELEASED BY HAMAS. LIKE HIS CHILDREN WERE LATE LAST NOVEMBER. MY TWO YOUNG COUSINS, SAHAR AND ARAS, SPENT 51 DAYS IN CAPTIVITY BEFORE THEY WERE RELEASED. THEIR FATHER, OFER, WILL HAVE SPENT, AS OF TOMORROW, ROUGHLY FIVE TIMES THAT. BUT GREENBERG ADMITS IT’S HARD AFTER HAMAS HAS REJECTED THIS LATEST US BACKED CEASE FIRE PROPOSAL, SAYING IT WANTS A COMPLETE WITHDRAWAL OF ISRAELI FORCES BEFORE IT WILL AGREE TO ANY RELEASE OF THE HOSTAGES. EXPERTS ARE NOT SURPRISED, SAYING HAMAS IS NOW IN SURVIVAL MODE. THEY’VE LOST MORE THAN 50% OF THEIR FIGHTING FORCE. THEY HAVE BEEN DECIMATED AND THEY’RE NOT GOING TO WILLINGLY GIVE UP. THE ONLY HAND THEY HAVE TO PLAY, WHICH IS THESE HOSTAGE FAMILIES. U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE ANTONY BLINKEN IS IN THE MIDDLE EAST PUSHING FOR A DEAL AND RELEASE OF HOSTAGES, INCLUDING THE EIGHT AMERICANS BEING HELD. HE SAYS IF THIS WAR CONTINUES, THAT’S NOW ON HAMAS. JASON GREENBERG AGREES. CERTAINLY HAMAS STARTED THIS. HAMAS CAN END THIS. AND TO HAVE, YOU KNOW, MY COUSIN OFER AND SO MANY OTHERS STILL CAUGHT IN THE BALANCE IS JUST NOT EASY TO BEAR WITNESS TO. ISRAELI OFFICIALS ESTIMATE ABOUT 120 HOSTAGES REMAIN IN GAZA, BUT ABOUT ONE THIRD OF THEM HAVE DIED IN CAPTIVITY IN THE
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Massachusetts man whose cousin remains Hamas hostage hopeful for cease-fire
Anchor/Reporter
Hamas announced Tuesday it will not accept a peace deal with Israel and wants changes made to the cease-fire proposal that is backed by the United States.White House officials are examining the proposed changes with Qatari and Egyptian mediators, but that is little solace for people who still have relatives being held hostage by Hamas — including Massachusetts resident Jason Greenberg.Greenberg, who lives in Needham, said his cousin Ofer Kalderon was one of five relatives who were taken hostage by Hamas during the militant group's incursion into Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.Kalderon's two children, Erez and Sahar, were released by Hamas in November 2023 but he remains a hostage. Greenberg's other two relatives who were taken captive, 80-year-old Carmela Dan and her 13-year-old granddaughter, Noya Dan, were killed."We believe that (Ofer) is alive. We all believe he will come home," Greenberg said. "My two young cousins, Sahar and Erez, spent 51 days in captivity before they were released. Their father, Ofer, will have spent, as of (Wednesday), roughly five times that."Greenberg said it is hard to keep hope after Hamas rejected the latest U.S.-backed cease-fire proposal. The group states it wants a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces before it will agree to any release of hostages.UMass Dartmouth history professor Brian Williams said he is not surprised by Hamas' stance because the group is now in survival mode."They've lost more than 50% of their fighting force. They have been decimated and they're not going to willingly give up the only hand they have to play, which is these hostage families," Williams said.U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is in the Middle East pushing for a cease-fire deal and the release of hostages, including the eight Americans who are being held by Hamas.Blinken said if the war in Gaza continues, it's on Hamas. It's a sentiment Greenberg agrees with."Certainly, Hamas started this. Hamas can end this," Greenberg said. "To have my cousin, Ofer, and so many others still caught in the balance is just not easy to bear witness to."Israeli officials estimate about 120 hostages of Hamas remain in Gaza, but about one-third of them have died in captivity.
NEEDHAM, Mass. —
Hamas announced Tuesday it will not accept a peace deal with Israel and wants changes made to the cease-fire proposal that is backed by the United States.
White House officials are examining the proposed changes with Qatari and Egyptian mediators, but that is little solace for people who still have relatives being held hostage by Hamas — including Massachusetts resident Jason Greenberg.
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Greenberg, who lives in Needham, said his cousin Ofer Kalderon was one of five relatives who were taken hostage by Hamas during the militant group's incursion into Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.
Kalderon's two children, Erez and Sahar, were released by Hamas in November 2023 but he remains a hostage. Greenberg's other two relatives who were taken captive, 80-year-old Carmela Dan and her 13-year-old granddaughter, Noya Dan, were killed.
"We believe that (Ofer) is alive. We all believe he will come home," Greenberg said. "My two young cousins, Sahar and Erez, spent 51 days in captivity before they were released. Their father, Ofer, will have spent, as of (Wednesday), roughly five times that."
Greenberg said it is hard to keep hope after Hamas rejected the latest U.S.-backed cease-fire proposal. The group states it wants a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces before it will agree to any release of hostages.
Hamas says it gave mediators its response to Gaza cease-fire plan with some 'remarks'
UMass Dartmouth history professor Brian Williams said he is not surprised by Hamas' stance because the group is now in survival mode.
"They've lost more than 50% of their fighting force. They have been decimated and they're not going to willingly give up the only hand they have to play, which is these hostage families," Williams said.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is in the Middle East pushing for a cease-fire deal and the release of hostages, including the eight Americans who are being held by Hamas.
Blinken said if the war in Gaza continues, it's on Hamas. It's a sentiment Greenberg agrees with.
"Certainly, Hamas started this. Hamas can end this," Greenberg said. "To have my cousin, Ofer, and so many others still caught in the balance is just not easy to bear witness to."
Israeli officials estimate about 120 hostages of Hamas remain in Gaza, but about one-third of them have died in captivity.
