Three Israeli women held hostage by Hamas since October 7, 2023, were released yesterday in Gaza as part of a new ceasefire agreement. Romi Gonen, 24, Doron Steinbrecher, 31, and British-Israeli national Emily Damari, 28, were transferred to Israeli authorities via the Red Cross after nearly 16 months in captivity.
Gonen was captured while fleeing the Nova music festival, where over 360 people were killed in the Hamas attack. Her final contact with family was a distressing phone call to her mother, Meirav, during which gunshots and Arabic shouting could be heard. Steinbrecher, a veterinary nurse, was taken from her apartment in Kibbutz Kfar Aza after sending a final desperate WhatsApp message saying “They’ve caught me.” Damari was shot in the hand during her capture from the same kibbutz, losing two fingers in the attack.
The women have been reunited with their families following medical checks. They are the first of 33 Israeli hostages expected to be released under the deal, which also includes the release of 90 Palestinian prisoners. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the development while maintaining that the military stands ready to respond to any truce violations.
This marks the beginning of a broader ceasefire and hostage release agreement between Israel and Hamas, scheduled to continue over the next six weeks. The emotional reunions included Romi’s father breaking down in tears upon seeing footage of his daughter’s release, and Emily embracing her mother while video calling her brother.
