Canadian relative of October 7 hostage holds breath as ceasefire nears

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Maureen Leshem is a Canadian cousin of Romi Gonen, an Israeli woman kidnapped by Hamas on October 7 while attending the Nova Music Festival who could be one of the hostages freed in a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas.

Leshem has advocated for Gonen’s release from captivity in the Gaza Strip since the terror attacks against Israel more than a year ago. In December, she organized a challah bake fundraiser in Toronto to support Gonen’s family in Israel. “We have not heard any news about Romi since last November, when we learned she was alive and in desperate need of medical attention for a gunshot wound to her hand,” says the fundraising site, which has more than $50,000 in donations.

Now, the family is hopeful that Gonen could be freed as early as Sunday, as a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas enters the final stages.

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“They are optimistic but also believe that Romi will be home when Romi will actually be home,” Leshem told National Post after speaking with her family in Israel. She does not know for sure if Gonen will be released as part of the ceasefire deal.

The agreement, which was first announced on Wednesday, includes the withdrawal of forces to predetermined areas, ongoing humanitarian aid for Gaza and the exchange of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners, some of whom are reportedly serving life sentences for acts of terror. The first phase, set to begin Sunday, will likely see Israeli women, children and the elderly released alongside the bodies of victims slain by Hamas.

The deal was at risk on Thursday as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office issued a statement blaming the Palestinian terror group for fomenting a “crisis” on the eve of the deal’s completion. Later in the day, reports said that the issues had been resolved, the deal was back on track and that Israel’s cabinet would vote on the deal once everything is finalized in the coming days.

Leshem remained optimistic when she spoke to National Post’s Ari Blaff on Thursday afternoon. The following conversation has been edited for clarity and length.

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How are you feeling right now?

There are days that I feel everything, and there are days that I actually feel nothing. I’m so numb. It’s just every single type of emotion that you can think of from being anxious, from being terrified to, of course, impatient. You know, Sunday can’t come close enough, soon enough, just constantly being glued to my phone.

The thought of Romi and the hostages — just the thought of them finally coming home — is filling me with this hopeful anticipation. But then, at the same time, I’m filled with fear, you know. We’re dealing with a hostage crisis; we’re negotiating with these organizations that have proven, you know, to thrive on cruelty and chaos. And so, it’s really difficult. It’s really difficult, but I’m choosing to focus on being positive.

 Is this the most optimistic moment you’ve had since October 7?

Actually, for me, yes. This is the first time. Any time there were talks of a ceasefire, I actually never entertained them. At the very, very beginning I did, but then, those blows, that emotional whiplash — it’s going to happen, it’s going to happen, and it’s not happening. It’s just a killer. And I don’t know if it’s survival, or what, but I just chose not to entertain them. And, this time, I don’t know. For me, the fact that president-elect Donald Trump is behind it, I think is what’s driving my optimism.

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If everything were to work out, and Sunday goes smoothly, would you plan on visiting Israel?

Quite possibly, yes. But I’m going to do what is going to be in the best interest of my family in Israel. I think that it’s important that Romi needs to be with her immediate family, her siblings, her mother and father. But absolutely. If there is a need for me to be there, I will be on the first plane.

 Are you holding your breath right now with the recent developments?

I’m choosing not to focus on that. I never thought, for a second, that there wouldn’t be hiccups along to the very last minute. I wouldn’t be surprised if this isn’t the only challenge. I feel like there’s a lot of international pressure right now, and I believe Trump. I believe what he says. So I’m not focusing on that. It’s just part of the negotiations. It’s part of their (Hamas’s) psychological torture on everybody. It’s almost expected, like, it’s so obviously has their name written all over it, you know?

Do you think that Trump played a decisive role in the negotiations?

Yeah.  Biden didn’t need to be re-elected in order for this to happen. He had fifteen months to make this happen. It takes you that long to get your citizens back?  Even ours, even (Justin) Trudeau; I refuse to call him prime minister because he doesn’t deserve that title. We have a Canadian citizen who’s being held hostage for her body, and he doesn’t demand that they bring it back for her Canadian family to bury her properly.

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