Gaza War: First Gaza hostages back in Israel – ceasefire begins

As part of a ceasefire agreement, the first three hostages were released by Hamas and returned to Israel after more than 15 months. They are civilians Romi Gonen (24), Emily Damari (28) and Doron Steinbrecher (31), who were handed over to representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in the Gaza Strip. According to the Red Cross, the three were in good physical condition, the Israeli news site ynet reported.

The women were then brought to Israel by the Israeli military. There they should be received by their mothers and medically examined. They will ultimately be transferred by helicopter to a clinic near Tel Aviv and will meet other relatives there.

Television images showed the three women in a vehicle in Gaza being surrounded by a large crowd. Armed Hamas members accompanied them and pushed people back. The hostages got out of the vehicle and were then handed over to the ICRC representatives.

Terrorists abducted the women during the massacre in Israel on October 7, 2023 and have held them in the Gaza Strip since then. Around 90 Palestinian prisoners – mostly women and minors – will later be released from Israeli prisons for the three women.

Romi Gonen was kidnapped and injured from the Nova music festival near the border with the Gaza Strip. The 24-year-old’s father told the news site ynet before the release that the family had waited more than 11,000 hours for this moment.

The other two women were abducted from their homes on Kibbutz Kfar Aza. Emily Damari has both Israeli and British citizenship. Doron Steinbrecher also has Romanian citizenship.

Celebrations by relatives of the released hostages

Friends and relatives reacted to the release of the hostages with joyous celebrations. Numerous people clapped and cheered in “Hostage Square” after the release of the young women was confirmed. Thousands of people crowded the square in central Tel Aviv.

94 Israeli hostages still in the Gaza Strip

94 people abducted from Israel are now being held in the Gaza Strip. In the next six weeks, the first phase of the ceasefire agreement, 30 more hostages are to be released. Four more abductees are expected to be released in a week. In return, it was agreed that Israel would release 1,904 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli prisons for the total of 33 hostages.

Scholz after his release: day of joy

After the release of the first three Hamas hostages, Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) is calling for further releases as part of the ceasefire. “Today is a day of joy: more Hamas hostages have finally been released and reunited with their families,” wrote Scholz on Platform X. This first step must be followed by further steps. “All hostages must be released and more humanitarian aid must reach the Gaza Strip quickly.”

A temporary ceasefire in the Gaza war had previously come into force this morning. Hamas and Israel want to negotiate further steps in the next few weeks. The aim is the complete withdrawal of the Israeli military from Gaza and the release of the last hostages. If no agreement is reached, fighting could continue.

The Gaza war broke out after Hamas and other terrorist groups attacked Israel in October 2023 with around 1,200 deaths. Large parts of the Gaza Strip inhabited by the Palestinians lie in rubble and ash. According to the Hamas-controlled health authority, more than 46,900 people were killed. She does not say how many of them are civilians and how many are fighters.

ICRC: People will need help for a long time

The ICRC warned that the current political impulse should be continued. The agreement is an important step, but that is not the end of it, said ICRC President Mirjana Spoljaric recently. “The immense humanitarian needs must be met and this will take months, if not years.” In any case, the organization is prepared to expand humanitarian aid, said Spoljaric.

As part of a ceasefire at the end of November 2023, Hamas released 105 hostages. In return, Israel released 240 Palestinian prisoners from prison.