Families across US 'adopt a hostage' in show of solidarity as Israel-Hamas truce continues

A four-day truce went into effect in Gaza on Thursday.

The fragile pause saw exchanges of Hamas rocket fire and Israeli strikes right up until minutes before the pause went into effect.

Many are eagerly anticipating the over the next few days including in the United States. Close to 240 hostages in total are held in Gaza.

On Thanksgiving, a holiday normally marked by gatherings and enjoying being together, many families from all across the country participated in an initiative to "adopt a hostage" and set a place for them at their dinner table.

They received a photo, along with a short biography of the person, to print out and place in a seat. Families across the U.S. took part.

“This is an initiative that began a few days ago, but tonight has been adopted by many American families across the country, in order to show support and solidarity with the families of the hostages, and the hostages themselves, as everyone is in anticipation of the first group of hostages being released,” said Dan Arbell, a scholar-in-residence at the Center for Israeli Studies at American University.

Organizers and participants say they will keep the initiative going in various ways until all the hostages are able to come home.

"This first group of hostages that is supposed to be released over the next four or five days, is supposed to reach about 50, and maybe perhaps within a week, optimists believe it may reach 80," said Arbell. "But still, if 80 are released within the first week, we are talking about only one-third of the people held by Hamas and Islamic Jihad, and still will be after that 160 more. So this initiative and others around the country, to show support and solidarity with the hostages and their families is not going away."

Friday’s halt in fighting promised some relief for Gaza's 2.3 million people, who have endured weeks of Israeli bombardment, as well as families in Israel fearful for the fate of loved ones taken captive during Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack that triggered the war.

The truce raised hopes of eventually winding down the war, though Israeli leaders have pushed back against the idea, saying the war will resume with intensity once the truce is over.