Tel Aviv was filled with hope, tears of joy and hugs on Sunday as three Israeli hostages held by Hamas in the first phase of a Gaza ceasefire agreement were reunited with their families. The three women – Romy Gonen, Doron Steinbrecher and Emily Damri – were handed over to Red Cross officers by armed men in camouflage military gear with green Hamas headbands.
Hamas took three women captive during its attack on October 7, 2023, which killed at least 1,200 people. The Lebanon-backed group released them in exchange for 90 Palestinian prisoners.
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shared video and photos of three women wrapped in Israeli flags reuniting with their families. Scenes show the women embracing their mothers in a reception centre, while one of the hostages waves his bandaged hand, missing two fingers, at his family on the other end of a mobile phone video call.
The first photos of emotional meetings between returnees and their families at reception points in Israel. pic.twitter.com/98MPwh0zNX
– Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) 19 January 2025
“For a whole year we had no sign of life in him and this is the first time we’re seeing him, and we’re seeing him walking on his own two feet and we’re here just waiting to hug him and say so much We love him,” said the family of the released hostages.
“I would like you to tell them: Romy, Doron and Emily – the whole country embraces you. Welcome home,” Netanyahu said by phone as he welcomed the women back home.
Welcome! ,
Video of the emotional meeting between Romy Gonen, Emily Damari and Doron Steinbrecher and their families at Sheba Medical Center. pic.twitter.com/CJYdJXiaSX
– Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) 19 January 2025
In addition to the families of the three released hostages, thousands of people, some cheering and crying, gathered in Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square as a giant screen broadcast the first glimpses of the women. A group of Israelis also played music and sang patriotic songs.
On the other hand, there were massive celebrations with fireworks in Gaza as buses carrying Palestinian prisoners reached Ramallah in the West Bank.
Israel began a six-week ceasefire with Hamas in Gaza on Sunday, about three hours after its initial schedule, ending more than 15 months of war that has left more than 47,000 people dead. Negotiations for the second phase of the agreement will begin by the 16th day of the first phase. This is also likely to include the release of the remaining 94 hostages.
All the remaining bodies are expected to be returned in the last phase of the ceasefire.
