'I just want to hug him': Israel's hostages may finally come home. Families can't wait

On Sunday , the first of dozens of captives held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip are expected to be freed as part of an initial phase of an Israel -Hamas ceasefire deal.

The deal's first phase, due to take place over six weeks , 33 hostages, including women, children and elderly people will be released in exchange for dozens of Palestinian prisoners.

Ruby Chen's son Itay was 19 and serving in the Israel Defense Forces when Hamas attacked Israel 's southern border with Gaza on Oct. 7, 2023 , killing about 1,200 people.

Dekel-Chen's father describes his son as an entrepreneur whose "moonlighting gig is repurposing old buses for new uses" He was kidnapped along with his wife Aviva from Kibbutz Kfar Aza , one of the hardest-hit communities during Hamas ' attacks.

Aviva Siegel is originally from Chapel Hill , N.C. , meets age criteria for release in the deal's early stages.

The agreement calls for a surge in humanitarian assistance to Gaza .

Israel 's government believes 94 hostages are still in Gaza , 34 of whom are presumed dead.

None of them are expected to be returned to their families in the deal's early stages.

"All the hostages need come out, regardless of their physical status," Itay Chen said he plans to attend President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration on Monday .