Day 540 - Jonathan Dekel-Chen: US feels like hostages’ only beacon

Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute
audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and
the Jewish world.


Today's we're bringing you an episode of What Matters Now, our
weekly podcast exploring key issues currently shaping Israel and
the Jewish World. This installment is hosted by arts and culture
editor Jessica Steinberg, who is speaking with Jonathan
Dekel-Chen, father of released hostage Sagui Dekel-Chen.


Dekel-Chen, a dual Israeli-American citizen, was a vocal and
visible hostage parent throughout the months of his son’s
captivity. Sagui Dekel-Chen was taken hostage on October 7, 2023,
from Kibbutz Nir Oz, while his pregnant wife and two young
daughters hid in their safe room.


Dekel-Chen discusses the relief he and the family experienced
upon seeing his son released home to Israel, the challenges that
Sagui, the family and the Nir Oz community still face, and the
sense of rebirth that Sagui feels post-captivity.


For 496 days, Sagui didn’t know the fate of his nuclear family,
as well as what happened to extended members of his family and
friends.


Dekel-Chen also reflects on the sense of abandonment felt by many
hostage families from the Israeli government throughout the
months of the war, and particularly now, since the army returned
to fighting in Gaza, leaving 59 hostages still in captivity.


He speaks about the tremendous support he and other hostage
families received from the US government, both from the Biden and
Trump administrations, and his surprise to learn that American
Jewish organizations didn’t band together to support the hostage
families.


So this week, we ask history professor Jonathan Dekel-Chen, what
matters now?


Please see today's ongoing liveblog for
more updates.


Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple
Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your
podcasts. This episode was produced by the Pod-Waves.


IMAGE: Freed hostage Sagui Dekel-Chen with his father Jonathan
aboard an IDF helicopter en route to the hospital soon after his
release from 498 days in Hamas captivity in Gaza, February 15,
2025 (IDF)


See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.