In a bittersweet turn of events, Keith Siegel is set to be released on Saturday, following a harrowing seven-week stint as a hostage during the chaos of the Israel-Hamas conflict, alongside fellow captives Bibas and Kalderon.

Keith Siegel's impending release, part of a fragile ceasefire deal, marks a glimmer of hope amidst the tragic backdrop of the conflict that has seen roughly 250 kidnappings and a staggering 1,200 casualties. As Siegel reunites with his wife Aviva, who was freed in November, questions linger about the fates of their fellow hostages and the toll this chaotic ordeal has taken on their families.

While the ceasefire may not yet have become a family-friendly barbecue, it does allow for some hostages' triumphant returns—including Siegel, who, after his unrequested holiday, is undoubtedly looking forward to the simple pleasures of life, such as sleeping in his own bed without the sound of explosions in the background. His wife, Aviva, who managed to escape the clutches of captivity last month, must be waiting with open arms and perhaps a candle for a romantic dinner made with premade supermarket meals that remind her that the culinary arts, like peace, are also a work in progress.

Among the other names on the release list are Yarden Bibas and Ofer Kalderon. Bibas’s situation has become a tragic air of irony, considering his family’s rumoured demise in an Israeli airstrike, a claim that has been debated as fiercely as the existence of pineapple on pizza. Israeli forces have disputed the claims of Hamas, sparking further debate on whose catastrophe history will remember. Meanwhile, Ofer Kalderon might find himself forever grateful for the earlier release of his daughters during a previous hostage exchange, though he still grapples with the uncertainty surrounding the fate of remaining family members, making family reunions even more complex than usual.

This latest series of hostages being released is not unprecedented, as earlier exchanges have already seen the liberation of eight individuals—a fact that, much like a forgotten item in a fridge, leaves one questioning what went wrong in the first place. With each exchange, one could mistake this conflict for a bizarre swap meet, one that lacks the charm and camaraderie typically associated with boisterous outdoor markets.

On the other side of the globe, the United States has been quietly monitoring the situation, with reports indicating that American citizens are still believed to be alive within Gaza, alongside the remains of those who perished on that fateful day in October. Thus, the U.S. finds itself in a convoluted cocktail of sorrow and uncertainty, as it weighs how to best navigate a series of unfortunate events that seem to have no catalog for easy reference. In the era of global diplomacy, wine and cheese gatherings now likely include conversations about how to bring beloved citizens home—preferably before the next season of conflict.

While the ongoing negotiations might look starkly different from your average peace talks, the inclusion of snacks (both for the negotiators and the returning hostages) seems to be a crucial move. After all, nothing says ‘let’s work together for a better future’ like a shared plate of hummus. These moments of hospitality could be key in mending the shredded cloth of diplomatic relations, though one can’t help but wonder how far they’d stretch in the event extra flavors were added.

And so, as we inch closer to Saturday, the fate of the remaining hostages hangs by a thread, much like an overscheduled party planner attempting to squeeze in a last-minute favor. People are holding their breaths, while the families of the rescued sit waiting in anticipation—perhaps working through their complicated feelings about blending joy with the reality of loss and the bittersweet taste of victory, like finally finding that cookie you thought you lost, only to discover it’s stale.

As Keith Siegel prepares to step back into what could charitably be called normalcy, we hope he finds more than just a physical escape from captivity but also the emotional tools needed to navigate the complex mix of joy and sorrow he will undoubtedly feel in the days to come. Because amidst the chaos of broken families and those still enduring hardship, the journey toward healing becomes a team effort—complete with snacks, no less.