Three Israeli hostages were released by Hamas as part of a ceasefire agreement that temporarily halted the fighting in Gaza. The release of these hostages, which took place on Sunday, marked a significant moment in the ongoing conflict. The hostages were seen being transported in vehicles belonging to the International Committee of the Red Cross, and they were cheered by onlookers as they were escorted by armed Hamas fighters through the southern city of Khan Younis. The release was broadcasted live in Israel, where hundreds gathered outside the defense headquarters in Tel Aviv to watch the emotional moment on a giant screen, celebrating and shedding tears as three female hostages were seen emerging from a vehicle.
Here are the details of the three hostages who were freed:
1. Romi Gonen
Romi Gonen, a 23-year-old dancer, was abducted by Hamas gunmen during the attack on the Nova music festival on October 7, 2023. Gonen initially hid with several friends from the attackers but was shot in the hand during the incident. While on the phone with her family, she told them, “I am going to die today.” Her final communication to her family was intercepted when they heard the attackers saying in Arabic, “She’s alive, let’s take her.” Her phone was later traced to a location in Gaza.
2. Doron Steinbrecher
Doron Steinbrecher, a 30-year-old veterinary nurse, was taken by Hamas from her home in Kibbutz Kfar Aza. Hours after the attack began, she called her parents, expressing fear as gunmen had entered her building. Steinbrecher then sent a voice message to her friends, saying, “They’ve arrived, they have me.” Her abduction was part of the wider wave of attacks during the Hamas assault.
3. Emily Damari
Emily Damari, a 28-year-old British-Israeli, was also abducted from her home in Kibbutz Kfar Aza. Born in London and a fan of the Tottenham Hotspur soccer team, Damari was shot in the hand and injured by shrapnel in her leg during the attack. According to her mother, she was blindfolded, thrown into the back of her own car, and driven to Gaza after being captured.
The release of these hostages brought a temporary respite to the ongoing conflict, though the wider situation remains fraught with tension and unresolved issues.
