Hostages Released as Ceasefire Begins: The First Phase of the Hostage Deal

Hamas has confirmed the release of three hostages—28-year-old Emily Damari, 23-year-old Romi Gonen, and 31-year-old Doron Steinbrecher—on Sunday, marking the first day of the ceasefire-hostage deal. These releases are part of phase one, where 33 hostages will be freed in exchange for security prisoners, humanitarian aid, and an IDF withdrawal from certain Gaza areas.

Under the terms of the deal, Israel will release 30 Palestinian detainees for every civilian hostage and 50 Palestinian detainees for every Israeli female soldier released by Hamas. Hostages released in the first phase are expected to include those in vulnerable categories such as women, children, elderly, and wounded individuals.

Details of the Hostages Released

- Doron Steinbrecher is an Israeli-Romanian dual national, abducted from Kfar Aza on October 7, 2023, while hiding in her home. Her family had raised concerns about her health due to the lack of access to her medication in captivity.

- Emily Damari, a British-Israeli national, was abducted from her Kfar Aza apartment after being shot in the hand and having her dog killed. She was taken in her own car, wounded by shrapnel during the attack.

- Romi Gonen was kidnapped from the Nova Music Festival. She had been shot while speaking to her mother and her final words were about the bleeding injuries she sustained in the attack.

The Effort to Bring Hostages Home

The Hostages Families Forum welcomed the news of the releases, saying that it eagerly awaited the hostages' return to Israel to be reunited with their families after 471 days in captivity. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed that the hostages would be released later in the day, with the handover expected at 4:00 p.m. local time.

Ceasefire Delays and IDF Responsibility

Although the ceasefire was initially set to begin at 8:30 a.m. local time on Sunday, delays occurred as Hamas waited to provide a confirmed list of hostages to be released. The IDF, which had earlier confirmed the hostages' location in central Gaza, worked to ensure the safe transfer, with special forces handling the final identification and verification of the hostages’ status.

IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Herzi Halevi addressed the Nahal Brigade in Beit Hanoun, emphasizing the IDF’s responsibility for the hostages' plight in Gaza and the determination to bring them home despite the challenges. Halevi reflected on the IDF’s efforts to eliminate terrorists and secure the release of hostages, expressing pride in the ongoing effort to return civilians and soldiers held by Hamas.