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Three women, held hostage by Hamas for over a year in tunnels beneath Gaza, were finally released and reunited with their families as part of a ceasefire agreement aimed at ending the conflict. Among them was Emily Damari, a 28-year-old with dual British-Israeli citizenship, alongside Romi Gonen, 24, and Doron Steinbrecher, 31.
The ordeal began on October 7, 2023, when the women were abducted by Hamas near a kibbutz and a music festival during a violent attack. On Sunday afternoon, the three were handed over to the International Committee of the Red Cross in Gaza. Their release marked the first stage of a three-phase hostage exchange deal between Israel and Hamas.
Footage showed the hostages being transported in a Red Cross vehicle and later escorted to a handover site in Gaza City by Hamas fighters. The Israeli military confirmed the women were in "good health" and had been safely transferred to Israeli forces. Emotional reunions with their mothers followed, with images capturing heartfelt embraces. One particularly moving moment showed Emily Damari speaking to her brother over the phone, visibly joyful despite injuries sustained during her abduction.
The three women were taken to Israel’s Sheba Medical Center, where they were reported to be in stable condition. Their release is part of a larger agreement to free 33 hostages categorized as vulnerable, including women, children, the elderly, and the ill. More hostages are expected to be released in the coming weeks as the ceasefire continues.
In return, Israel agreed to release 90 Palestinian prisoners, including women and teenage boys. This delicate truce is underpinned by significant challenges, including the question of Gaza's future governance and Israel’s stance that the war may resume unless Hamas is dismantled.
Source: The Guardian
