A relative of two people kidnapped by Hamas is hoping hostages will be released despite delays with the deal and pause in fighting.

Oded and Yocheved Lifshitz, who are both in their 80s, were two of more than 70 people taken from the Kibbutz Nir Oz on 7 October.

Ms Lifshitz, 85, and a peace activist, was released along with another woman last month. Her husband is believed to be still held captive in Gaza.

Their grandson, Daniel Lifshitz, said he is concerned about delays in a pause in the fighting agreed as part of a deal reached between Israel and Hamas and said he wants to see hostages freed as soon as possible.

Daniel Lifshitz said his grandmother is doing well physically after her ordeal

The deal will see 50 women and children released from the 240 people taken captive during October's attack on Israel by Hamas.

Last month, when Ms Lifshitz was released she shook the hand of her captor.

When asked why, she said "they [Hamas] treated us gently, and provided all our needs."

Speaking to RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Daniel Lifshitz, who is a former Israeli footballer, said his grandmother was recovering physically.

"Physically, she recovered. Mentally, it's a very big hard process. Her friends are still there and my grandfather is still there.

"From the kibbutz Nir Oz, there are 75 hostages. That means one of every three hostages are coming from the kibbutz.

"For her those are people that she grew up with all her life. With some of the same people she founded the kibbutz in 1955. Those people are great peace activists, human rights activists," he said.

The remains of Oded and Yocheved Lifshitz's home after the Hamas attack

Daniel Lifshitz added he was dealing with the trauma of the attack on his kibbutz by working to highlight the plight of the hostages.

"My work is to bring awareness and to do everything for the release of the hostages.

"But personally, for me it’s just horrible. Those are people that I grew up with. Those are my parents. Those are my grandparents. And those people are my family. And to think that they are there … that's something that is so awful and it's beyond any imagination."

Asked about the deal to release hostages, Daniel Lifshitz said he was happy to have a deal where hostages will be released. However, he added he is concerned about the delay in the pause in fighting.

"My only concern is that something of the deal won't happen. I am hoping to see that deal going on and the start of hostages coming."

Asked about the continuation of this war and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowing to win "absolute victory" over Hamas, Mr Lifshitz said: "Hamas is a huge problem, not only for us, also for the Palestinians. Hamas rule must end and there has to be a change of what's going on in the Gaza Strip. But before that, I'm very happy to hear that the hostages are the top priority."

He added: "It is a great relief for any hostage release and I was waiting for so many families to feel what I felt when my grandmother was released. The release was maybe supposed to happen today and then it's delayed for tomorrow. So you know, the mood is that there is a bit of tension in the air".