First Gaza hostages back in Israel: “Finally home after 471 days”

The first three Hamas hostages are free. The Israeli military confirms this. As part of the ceasefire agreement that came into force on Sunday, three civilians were handed over by Hamas to the Red Cross: Emily Damari, 28, Romi Gonen, 24, and Doron Steinbrecher, 31.

Television images showed the three women in a vehicle in Gaza being surrounded by a large crowd. Armed Hamas members accompanied the women and pushed the people back. The hostages got out of the vehicle. You can read more about the three women here.

In the early evening, the three women were handed over to the Israeli armed forces and taken back to Israel by the military. There they were received by their mothers and medically examined. “The three returnees have just arrived at the initial reception center near the Gaza Strip and are now meeting with their mothers,” the army said on Sunday evening. A photo released by the armed forces showed released hostage Emily Damari smiling next to her mother. They will ultimately be transferred by helicopter to a clinic near Tel Aviv.

“After 471 days, Emily is finally home,” Emily’s mother Mandy Damari said in a statement to the Hostage Families Forum. She wanted to thank everyone who continued to fight for Emily during this terrible ordeal. “In Israel, Great Britain, the USA and all over the world.”

“While Emily’s nightmare in Gaza is over, the unbearable wait continues for too many other families,” Damari said. Every single hostage must be freed and there must be humanitarian aid for those still waiting to come home. Damari also asked for privacy for her daughter and her family.

The three women were kidnapped by the terrorists during the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. They had been under the control of Hamas for more than 15 months. According to a report by the Israeli news site ynet, they are said to be largely intact, at least physically, citing the ICRC.

As part of the ceasefire, a second group of Israeli hostages is to be released next weekend. “The release of the second group of Israeli prisoners (hostages) will take place next Saturday evening, the seventh day after the ceasefire comes into force,” a senior Hamas official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said in a telephone call from Doha on Sunday. The Hamas representative did not say how many hostages would be released by Hamas next Saturday or how many Palestinian prisoners Israel would release.

In Israel, friends and relatives reacted with celebrations after the release of the young women was confirmed. Numerous people clapped and cheered on the “Square of the Hostages”. Thousands of people crowded the square in central Tel Aviv.

Friends of Emily Damari celebrated her release after more than 15 months of Hamas violence. One of them took an Israeli television reporter on his shoulders and danced while she continued to report on the dramatic events.

After the news, Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) called for further releases. “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 others. “All hostages must be released and more humanitarian aid must reach the Gaza Strip quickly.”

Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens) wrote on She is thinking particularly of those who are still being abducted and their families.

If everyone adheres to the agreements, the ceasefire could be more than just a moment of relief. For the first time in a long time, the people of Gaza could also breathe deeply without fear of bombs. “Everything is still missing: food, medical care and emergency accommodation. We are doing everything we can with our partners to ensure that urgently needed help gets to them quickly as agreed,” Baerbock continued.

The ICRC and IDF had been preparing for the release of the first hostages until the very end. The agreement between Israel and Hamas calls for the release of 30 more people in the coming weeks. In total, there are said to be more than 90 hostages still being held by the terrorist militia, 34 of whom are already said to be dead.

In return, the Israeli government agreed to release almost 2,000 imprisoned Palestinians. Egypt announced these details. The ceasefire is initially valid for 42 days. It came into force on Sunday morning about three hours late.

According to Palestinian information, the Palestinian prisoners are also the first to be released. The Palestinian Authority’s press office said the released people had arrived with their families in East Jerusalem. There was initially no official confirmation from Israeli authorities.

Note: This article has been updated several times.