British-Israeli woman among first hostages released by Hamas, while Palestinians still await release of 90 prisoners
Emily Damari was among the first three Israeli hostages released by Hamas today – as the long-anticipated Gaza ceasefire deal finally came into effect. Thousands of displaced Palestinians ventured homewards after Israeli forces began to withdraw from parts of decimated Gaza.
Three hostages have arrived in southern Israel after being released by Hamas, in a ceasefire deal that has put an end, for now, to 15 months of bitter war in Gaza.
They were first handed to the Red Cross, who said the three women were in good health, an Israeli official told the Reuters news agency.
Shortly after, Israel confirmed the names of the 90 Palestinian prisoners – including women and children – due to be released today in exchange.
Among the hostages was 28-year-old British-Israeli Emily Damari, the IDF confirmed.
She was abducted from her home in Kibbutz Kfar Aza during the 7 October Hamas attack on Israel when she was “shot in the hand, injured by shrapnel in her leg, blindfolded, bundled into the back of her own car, and driven back to Gaza”, according to her mother.
The other two hostages freed today were 31-year-old Doron Steinbrecher, abducted from the same kibbutz in southern Israel as Ms Damari, and Romi Gonen, 24, who was taken from the Supernova music festival.
Emily Damari’s mother, Mandy Damari, thanked “everyone who never stopped fighting for Emily throughout this horrendous ordeal”.
A 15-year-old boy from East Jerusalem is the youngest on the list of Palestinians to be released, which includes 69 women and 21 men, all from the occupied West Bank or East Jerusalem. Two 17-year-olds, a boy and a girl, were also named.
In decimated Gaza, Palestinians have been both celebrating the relief from the bombing and grieving the loss of loved ones and livelihoods.
Some started the trek back through the rubble to what is left of their homes, hoping to pick up any pieces of their lives.
“I feel like at last I found some water to drink after getting lost in the desert for 15 months. I feel alive again,” said a woman from Gaza City, who had been sheltering in Deir al Balah in the central Gaza Strip, for over a year.
Follow live updates on the Gaza ceasefire
The long-sought ceasefire for Gaza, where Israel waged a destructive military campaign for 15 months, was delayed before it eventually took effect at 11.15am local time (9.15am UK time).
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the ceasefire, which had been due to start at 8.30am, would not begin until Israel received the names of the three hostages to be released.
After receiving the list, his office confirmed in a statement the ceasefire had started, and that Israeli security personnel were checking the “details” and contacting the families of the hostages.
It also said four other living female hostages would be freed in seven days.
