Families of hostages in Gaza are terrified they won't return after Israel resumes fighting

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — When a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas began two months ago, Herut Nimrodi knew it would take time before her son was released from captivity in Gaza. The 20-year-old soldier was meant to be part of the second phase of the deal winding down the war.

But with Israel's surprise bombardment of Gaza, she fears he might not come home at all.

“I really wanted to believe that there is still a chance to reach a second stage without renewing this war. But it feels like my building of hope has collapsed, and I have no idea what to do next,” Nimrodi said Tuesday.

Nearly 60 families have relatives still held in Gaza. About two dozen hostages are believed to be alive.

During the ceasefire's first phase, which began in January, Hamas released 25 Israeli hostages and the bodies of eight others in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. But since that phase ended early this month, the sides have not been able to agree on a way forward.

Israel's renewed airstrikes threaten to end the fragile deal.

Nimrodi's son, Tamir, was abducted from his army base when Hamas stormed into Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people and taking more than 250 hostage. She's had no sign of life. He hasn't been declared dead by Israel.

“It’s so sad that this is the only solution that they could find,” she said, lamenting the government's decision.

The strikes early Tuesday killed more than 400 people and shattered a relative calm — along with hopes of ending the war that has killed over 48,000 Palestinians.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he ordered the airstrikes because of lack of progress in talks to extend the ceasefire. Officials called the operation open-ended.

The return to fighting could deepen the painful debate in Israel over the fate of the remaining hostages.

Netanyahu and his hardline governing partners believe renewing the war will put pressure on Hamas to free them and move Israel closer to its goal of destroying Hamas' military and governing capabilities.

But most hostage families, and large parts of the Israeli public, believe such goals are unrealistic. They say time is running out, particularly after the recent releases of emaciated-looking hostages who later described harsh conditions in captivity.

Hamas accused Netanyahu of upending the ceasefire and exposing the hostages ”to an unknown fate.”

Families of hostages called on supporters to protest with them outside Israel’s parliament Tuesday.

Some families who already know their relatives in Gaza are dead called the government’s decision unacceptable.

"This is not only a disaster in every way, shape or form on how the hostages keep suffering, being chained to walls, starved, abused, but also the death toll that keeps rising on the Gazan side,” Udi Goren said.

His cousin Tal Haimi was killed on Oct. 7 and his body was taken into Gaza. Goren said the international community must pressure Hamas, Israel and the mediators — the United States, Egypt and Qatar — to end the war.

“Returning to fighting? Did you listen to a word of what we, the returnees released in the last deal, have been saying to you?" former hostage Omer Wenkert wrote on Instagram.

Romi Gonen, among the first hostages to be freed in the ceasefire's first phase, said she would never forget what it felt like in captivity to hear the bombs after previous ceasefire talks collapsed and realize she wouldn't be freed any time soon.

“I beg you, the people of Israel, we must continue to fight for them," she said on Instagram.

Sylvia Cunio, whose two sons are held hostage, accused Israel's leaders of not having a heart.

“It isn’t right to continue the fighting. I want my children back home already. If he wants to kill me, the prime minister, let him do that already because I won’t get through this,” she said on local radio.

Nimrodi said she’s worried the airstrikes might not only harm her son and the other hostages but also make their living conditions worse.

The last time she saw Tamir, he was a funny teenager who rode horses and loved learning about geology and astronomy, she said. The two had a similar humor and used to talk about everything.

While she's terrified of what's to come, she said she won't stop fighting to see him again.

“Please, keep strong, survive,” she said, addressing him. “So there’s a chance for us to meet once more.”

Associated Press writer Natalie Melzer in Nahariya, Israel contributed.

Follow AP’s war coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war

FILE - Romi Gonen, right, and her mother Merav hold each other near kibbutz Reim, southern Israel after Romi was released from captivity by Hamas militants in Gaza, Jan. 19, 2025. (Israeli Army via AP, File)

EDS NOTE GRAPHIC CONTENT.- A man carries the body of a child to the Al-Ahli hospital following multiple overnight Israeli airstrikes across the Gaza Strip, in Gaza City, Tuesday, March 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)

EDS NOTE: GRAPHIC CONTENT - EDS NOTE GRAPHIC CONTENT.- Palestinians hold the hands of their relative who was killed in an Israeli army airstrike, at Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, Tuesday, March 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Abdel Karem Hanna)

An Israeli tank maneuvers on the border with northern Gaza Strip as seen from southern Israel, Tuesday, March 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)

Israels calling for the release of hostages held in the Gaza Strip and saying the resumption of fighting in Gaza puts their loved ones at risk, outside the Knesset, Israel's parliament, in Jerusalem, Tuesday, March 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean)

Israels calling for the release of hostages held in the Gaza Strip and saying the resumption of fighting in Gaza puts their loved ones at risk, outside the Knesset, Israel's parliament, in Jerusalem, Tuesday, March 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean)

Relatives of hostage held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip, sit by the Israe-Gaza border fence, escorted by Israeli soldiers, calling for their release and expressing concerns that the resumption of fighting in Gaza puts their loved ones at risk, in southern Israel, Tuesday, March 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)

Einav Zangauker, mother of Matan, who is held hostage by Hamas in the Gaza Strip, tries to pass a barbed wire to approach the Gaza border, calling for his release and expressing concerns that the resumption of fighting in Gaza puts him at risk, in southern Israel, Tuesday, March 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)

Einav Zangauker, mother Matan, who is held hostage by Hamas in the Gaza Strip, and other relatives of hostages attempt to approach the Gaza border, escorted by Israeli soldiers, calling for their release and expressing concerns that the resumption of fighting in Gaza puts their loved ones at risk, in southern Israel, Tuesday, March 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)

FILE - Herut Nimrodi poses for a portrait with a poster of her son, Tamir Nimrodi, an Israeli soldier who was abducted and brought to Gaza on Oct. 7, 2023, at a rally in Tel Aviv, Israel, on Jan. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo, File)

Relatives of hostage held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip, stand by the Israe-Gaza border fence, calling for their release and expressing concerns that the resumption of fighting in Gaza puts their loved ones at risk, in southern Israel, Tuesday, March 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)

SHANGHAI (AP) — Here is a guide that tells you everything you need to know about Sunday’s Chinese Grand Prix — the second race in the 2025 Formula 1 series.

— In the U.S., ESPN.

— Other countries are listed here.

— March 21: First practice and qualifying for the sprint race.

— March 22: Sprint race and qualifying for the Grand Prix.

— March 23: The Chinese Grand Prix.

The 5.45-kilometer (3.39-mile) Shanghai International Circuit is a purpose-built racetrack which first hosted F1 in 2004. Its layout resembles the Chinese character “shang” — the first part of the name of the city of Shanghai. Max Verstappen took a commanding win there last season ahead of Lando Norris, but teams have little recent experience of a track which didn't host F1 from 2020 through 2023 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Saturday's sprint race is the first of six this season.

Norris won the season-opening Australian Grand Prix for McLaren after surviving a slide off track in the rain and a late challenge from second-place Verstappen. George Russell was third for Mercedes. Norris' teammate and potential title rival Oscar Piastri span off the road and recovered to finish ninth after a late overtake on Lewis Hamilton, who was 10th in a frustrating debut for Ferrari.

Get caught up:

— McLaren has ominous pace, Lewis Hamilton has work to do: 5 takeaways from F1’s season-opener

— Frustrating start for Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari at F1 Australian Grand Prix

— McLaren’s Lando Norris wins wet and wild Australian Grand Prix. Hamilton finishes 10th

— Lewis Hamilton’s move to Ferrari is having a cultural impact far beyond Formula 1

— Meet Formula 1's biggest rookie class in years

3 — Only three current drivers have won in China. Verstappen won last year and Hamilton won six times for McLaren and Mercedes from 2008 to 2019. Fernando Alonso, now at Aston Martin, won for Renault in 2005 and Ferrari in 2013.

63 — Verstappen led the driver standings for 63 races over nearly three years. Now Norris leads after his win in Australia. The last driver other than Verstappen to be standings leader was Charles Leclerc in 2022.

18 — Andrea Kimi Antonelli's age when he became the second-youngest driver in F1 history to score points in Australia on his debut.

“I’m confident that when we go to China next weekend, we can be very strong because we were strong there last year with not a very good car.” — Norris

"It was fun those last laps... I’m just very happy to bring it home, score good points. This is, let’s say, a decent starting point for us." — Verstappen

“I struggled with the balance, but it was an important race for learning more about the car and in different weather conditions, as well as gaining more experience working with a new team.” — Hamilton

AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing

Race winner McLaren driver Lando Norris of Britain, second left, stands with second placed Max Verstappen, left, of the Netherlands, Rob Marshall, chief designer of McLaren and third placed Mercedes driver George Russell, right, of Britain on the podium following the Australian Formula One Grand Prix at Albert Park, in Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, March 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)

Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain waits in his team garage for the first practice session for the Australian Formula One Grand Prix at Albert Park, in Melbourne, Australia, Friday, March 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands reacts at a press conference following his second place finish at the Australian Formula One Grand Prix at Albert Park, in Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, March 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Scott Barbour)

McLaren driver Lando Norris of Britain leads Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands during the Australian Formula One Grand Prix at Albert Park, in Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, March 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Scott Barbour)

McLaren driver Lando Norris of Britain celebrates on the podium after winning the Australian Formula One Grand Prix at Albert Park, in Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, March 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)