It has now been close to two weeks since Hamas turned over all the living hostages and four that were deceased from Gaza. But 13 deceased hostages, including two Americans and a Thai national, are still being held.

Scripps News spoke with Ruby Chen, the father of Itay Chen, an American who died after being taken hostage by Hamas. The 19-year-old was at the time the youngest U.S. citizen taken into Hamas captivity.

His family says Itays body has not yet been returned. And Ruby says as deceased hostages are returned, waiting for news is a difficulty like nothing else.

"It's a feeling that's difficult to articulate. It's a phone call that is the worst phone call you'll ever get in your lifetime. And when you do not get that phone call, you feel disappointed. That is a very difficult set of emotions to have in one day."

RELATED STORY | Israel identifies the remains of one more hostage while 9 Palestinians are killed in Gaza City

This week Vice President JD Vance, U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio were all in Israel, seeking to shore up the tenuous peace deal between Israel and Gaza.

"Mr. Kushner, Mr. Witkoff, Vice President Vance I think them being here is not an accident," Ruby Chen said. "I think that's part of the pressure that the United States as well as the other mediators are putting on Hamas to bring back all the other hostages."

Watch the full interview with Ruby Chen in the video above.

Families of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza are cautiously optimistic about the cease-fire deal that progressed this week.

All hostages living and deceased are supposed to be released by Monday at noon local time, 72 hours after the deal went into effect.

The hostages are expected to be taken to various hospitals, which are preparing to provide medical and psychological support.

Families of the hostages say they are waiting for messages telling them they can meet their loved ones at the hospital.

Scripps News spoke with Matan Eshet, whose cousin Evyatar David is being held hostage.

Matan Eshet, the cousin of Israeli hostage Evyatar David, speaks out on his pending return

"We don't really know the conditions, his physical and mental conditions," Eshet said. "We have got some advice based on other hostages who came back, and based on social workers and psychologists who made a document and sent out points. 'This is the kind of thing you can assume is going to happen, to make sure you're not too shocked about they way they react to us.'"

"Everyone is imagining a really warm and heart to the first meeting, but you can never know how the first meeting is going to be, being treated so badly and inhumanely for such a long time," Eshet said.

RELATED STORY | Ceasefire between Israel and Hamas takes effect after U.S.-brokered deal

It's not clear if all remaining hostages will be released at once or in groups.

Intermediaries including Turkey, Qatar, Egypt, Israel and the United States are sending investigators who will work to locate the bodies of deceased hostages.

Israel, meanwhile, has begun retreating to agreed upon lines to uphold its part of the cease-fire deal.

Music mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs was sentenced to 50 months in prison, or just over four years, by a federal judge on Friday after his conviction on two prostitution-related charges.

Combs, 55, has been jailed in a federal detention facility in Brooklyn, New York, since his arrest in September of last year. In addition to his prison sentence, the judge also imposed a $500,000 fine the maximum fine he could order against Combs.

In July, Combs was convicted of transporting two of his former girlfriends to have sex with paid male escorts in hotels and drug-fueled parties referred to as "freak offs" during the trial. A jury acquitted Combs of racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking charges, allowing him to avoid a possible life sentence.

He had faced up to 10 years in prison for each count of transportation to engage in prostitution, but prosecutors asked that he be sentenced to more than 11 years. Combs' defense team argued that he should get no more than 14 months in prison, including his time already served, and stated that "he's been punished."

Ultimately, the judge said he felt the government's recommendation of more than 11 years was "not reasonable," but said "a substantial sentence must be given to send a message to abusers and victims alike that abuse against women is met with real accountability."

RELATED STORY | Judge rejects Sean 'Diddy' Combs bid to overturn conviction in prostitution case

Painting the picture of a changed man

Combs, along with members of his family and supporters, submitted letters for consideration before the sentencing.

Combs promised in his letter that he would never commit another crime if released, saying, The old me died in jail and a new version of me was reborn.

However, the judge said Combs has challenged the factual guilt of his conviction, and that while he has expressed remorse for some things, he hasnt expressed remorse as to what hes been convicted of.

Combs and his team have never admitted guilt, instead asking for an acceptance of responsibility credit.

Prosecutor Christy Slavik told Subramanian that not sentencing Combs to significant prison time would, in effect, be allowing him to get away with years of domestic violence.

Its a case about a man who did horrible things to real people to satisfy his own sexual gratification, Slavik said. He didnt need the money. His currency was control.

Slavik also blasted Combs for allegedly booking a Miami speaking gig next week, calling it the height of hubris.

No victims spoke at the sentencing hearing, including Mia, who reportedly changed her mind in part because of the defense letter, which Slavik called bullying.

The tone of the defenses letter was inappropriate, and so I agree with Ms. Slavik on that point, Judge Arun Subramanian told defense attorney Brian Steel. And that should not be done again.

Meanwhile, several people spoke during the hearing in support of Combs, asking for a lenient sentence.

One of Combs' attorneys, Nicole Westmoreland, became emotional as she explained how Combs inspired her personally.

Mr. Combs is not larger than life. Hes a human being. And hes made some mistakes. He has flaws, like we all do, Westmoreland said. But judge, how many of us can say that we helped so many lives, countless lives?

Several of Combs children later crowded around the podium, imploring the judge to give their father a second chance.

My father is my superhero. Seeing him broken down and stripped of everything is something I will never forget, Combs son, Justin Combs, said. He suggested that as tough as the ordeal has been, it probably saved Combs life because, during his year in jail, he has kicked drugs and alcohol.

His twin daughters, Chance and DLila Combs, cried as they read prepared remarks, DLila saying she fears losing their father to prison and effectively being parentless after the 2018 death of her mother, Kim Porter.

"Please, your honor, please, DLila said, crying, give our family the chance to heal together, to rebuild, to change, to move forward, not as a headline, but as human beings.

In all, six of Combs seven children spoke. His youngest daughter, Love, didnt speak, but shes just two years old.

Just before the sentencing, Combs addressed the court, calling his past behavior "disgusting, shameful" and "sick," while apologizing to the people he hurt physically and mentally, as well as his children in the audience. He said his acts of domestic violence are a burden he will have to carry for the rest of his life.

He also begged the judge for mercy.

RELATED STORY | 'Diddy' denied bail after mixed verdict in federal sex trafficking trial

What happened during the highly anticipated trial

After his nearly two-month trial, Combs was convicted of transporting two of his former girlfriends to have sex with paid male escorts in hotels and drug-fueled parties referred to as "freak-offs" and hotel nights during the trial.

A jury acquitted Combs of racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking charges, allowing him to avoid a possible life sentence.

The trial featured testimony from women who described being beaten, threatened, sexually assaulted and blackmailed by Combs, including his longtime former girlfriend Casandra Cassie Ventura Fine.

Cassie told jurors during her days of testimony that Combs ordered her to have disgusting sex with strangers hundreds of times during their decade-long relationship. The jury was repeatedly shown video of him dragging and beating her in a Los Angeles hotel hallway.

In a letter sent to the judge on Thursday, Cassie described Combs as an abuser who will always be the same cruel, power-hungry, manipulative man that he is.

She also wrote that she fears for the safety of herself and her family if Combs were released, and said she is keeping as private and quiet as possible for fear of retribution.

Another woman, identified under the pseudonym Jane, testified she was pressured into sex with male workers during drug-fueled hotel nights while Combs watched and sometimes filmed.

The only accuser scheduled to speak on Friday before backing out, a former assistant known as Mia, accused Combs of raping her in 2010 and asked the judge for a sentence that reflects the ongoing danger my abuser poses.

Prosecutors also introduced testimony at the trial about other alleged violence. One of Cassies friends said Combs dangled her from a 17th-floor balcony. Rapper Kid Cudi said Combs broke into his home and then claimed he set his car on fire after learning he was dating Cassie.

Elizabeth Stein has long been an anti-trafficking advocate but only revealed in recent years who trafficked her. She's become a leading voice in demanding accountability for Epstein's enablers, justice for survivors, and education to help those who might be missing warning signs. We sat down with her for an extensive one on one interview.

Stein was a 21-year-old intern at a luxury department store when she was introduced to Ghislaine Maxwell.

"We shopped, and we talked a lot," she recounted. "I offered to bring Maxwell's packages to her, and when I called, I was told to meet her at the St. Regis Hotel. And when I arrived, the concierge let me know that she was in the bar and that she wanted me to meet someone, and that someone was Jeffrey Epstein."

That meeting began a three year dynamic between Stein, Maxwell and Epstein. According to a now settled lawsuit, Stein alleges she was raped by Maxwell, Epstein and unnamed people they introduced her to.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT | Epstein survivors work to name alleged abusers outside official probe

Stein said she did not realize she had been trafficked until Epstein was arrested in 2019.

"The narrative in my head for the past three decades was that I had met these friends, and I was running with a crowd that ran too fast for me, and so the blame for what happened I always put on myself, and I didn't understand," she explained. "I saw it as a shortcoming in myself, and for decades, that was the narrative it was I did this wrong thing, and I was being punished for it in ways, and so when Epstein was arrested in 2019 I almost fell off my chair that day because I never thought that any of this happened to anyone other than myself. And to realize how many women it happened to after me really kind of made me feel ashamed, in a way, for not being strong enough when I was that young to say something about it."

The Supreme Court is currently debating taking up Maxwell's 20 year federal prison sentence.

"I am hoping that the American public wouldn't stand for that. If it did happen, this is a miscarriage of justice, and we're just seeing it overlooked at every turn," she said.

Stein played a role in influencing that sentence. She anonymously attended nearly every day of Maxwell's trial, only coming forward during the sentencing phase to deliver a victim impact statement. Maxwell was recently moved to a minimum security prison in Texas, something she calls a slap in the face to survivors.

RELATED STORY | Ghislaine Maxwell transferred to Texas prison amid renewed scrutiny of Epstein case

She, along with other survivors have said they found out about the move through the media. To this day, Stein has not been contacted by the White House nor the Department of Justice.

At a September rally on Capitol Hill, some survivors said they'd compile their own client list if the DOJ does not release one. Stein did not commit to contributing, and instead wants the pressure to be on the DOJ to disseminate that information.

The House's investigation is progressing and includes upcoming closed-door depositions with former FBI Director Jim Comey, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and President Bill Clinton.

There will likely be a vote in the coming weeks circumventing Speaker Mike Johnson to push for the release of more Epstein related files.

We asked Stein what justice would look like for her.

"I don't know if we will ever fully see justice, but I think justice for us would be holding the people that were involved accountable and seeing past the lies that were being told, and really, to hold our government accountable, that would be justice," she said. "The focus that we need to put nationally, when we're looking on sex at sex trafficking cases, is who is the buyer, who is the recipient of these people? Because if we didn't have a demand, then there would be no need to supply people. And so for me, the men who harmed us, that would be an important piece."

Watch Stein's extensive interview with Scripps News in the video player above.

Families of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza are protesting on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's doorstep, begging him to bring the remaining hostages home as the IDF pursues a new ground offensive in Gaza.

Families are concerned and frustrated about the safety of their loved ones, including the nearly two dozen hostages who are thought to still be alive in Gaza. They are worried for their safety following news that they might have been brought above ground as the IDF goes into Gaza City.

The Hostage Families Forum says a significant number of living hostages are believed to be held in Gaza City, where the IDF is expanding its footprint.

Both current and former IDF officials have advised against the new military operation.

The IDF says it's making every effort to avoid targeting certain areas where it believes hostages are being held.

RELATED STORY | Gaza City under siege as Israeli military launches main phase of offensive

The protests put new pressure on U.S. President Trump, as well.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in Israel this week after Israel struck against Hamas leadership in Qatar that Israel has U.S. support.

Hostage families from the United States have reached out to President Trump, with some believing his administration is their best or only avenue to make progress.

At recent protests in Tel Aviv, banners flew asking that President Trump intervene to secure a deal to free the remaining hostages.