Emily Damari, Doron Steinbrecher, and Romi Gonen have been released after 471 days of captivity, in exchange for 90 Palestinian prisoners. The three hostages, kidnapped by Hamas on October 7 in an action that led to a relentless war, are the first to be released after the fragile ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas following fifteen months of war. Gonen was kidnapped from the Nova music festival, while the others were kidnapped from Kibbutz Kfar Aza. Damari holds dual Israeli-British citizenship, and Steinbrecher holds Israeli and Romanian citizenship.
The three have been handed over to the Red Cross in a Gaza neighborhood and are in good condition, according to the organization. The Red Cross has handed them over to the Israeli army at an unspecified point on the Gaza border.
Two hours after the agreed time for the start of the ceasefire in Gaza, the Islamist group Hamas published the names of the three hostages, one of Israel's conditions to start the truce. Earlier, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu postponed the start of the ceasefire in Gaza for not having received that list.
Finally, at 10:15 a.m., the start of the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip was announced, and since then, thousands of displaced Palestinians have begun the journey back to their homes in Rafah. They have done so in trucks or carts, loaded with their personal belongings. The release of the three hostages is expected around 3:30 p.m., and for now, it is known that the Red Cross is on the way to receive them, as reported by Haaretz.
Negotiations for a second phase of the ceasefire will take place over six weeks, during which the release of all Israeli hostages in Gaza will be completed, and the foundations for the end of the war will be laid.
WHO urges full access to Gaza after the start of the truce between Israel and Hamas
The World Health Organization (WHO) stated on Sunday that it is prepared to provide urgent assistance to the Gaza Strip after the start of the truce between Israel and Hamas but requested "systematic access" to the entire territory, as reported by Afp.
Much of Gaza's health infrastructure has been devastated by the 15 months of war between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas before the ceasefire came into effect on Sunday.
WHO Director Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus welcomed the ceasefire agreement, stating in X that it "will bring great hope to millions of people whose lives have been destroyed by the conflict."
Israel releases the first group of 90 Palestinian prisoners in Gaza ceasefire agreement
Israel released the first group of 90 Palestinian prisoners, mostly women and children, in the early hours of Monday, confirmed the Israeli prison service, as part of the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip that came into effect on Sunday at 9:15 GMT, as reported by Efe.
Their release comes after Hamas handed over three Israeli hostages, three civilian women, who are now at the Sheba hospital in Tel Aviv.
Ceasefire agreement in Gaza sends 230 Palestinian prisoners into exile
Over 230 Palestinian prisoners, sentenced by Israel to life imprisonment for attacks in which Israeli citizens died, will be forced into exile after their release under the ceasefire agreement with Hamas in Gaza, as reported by Afp.
Israel published a list of 734 Palestinian detainees [out of a total of 737 announced] eligible for release during the first phase of the ceasefire agreement, which began on Sunday.
According to the details of the list, over 230 Palestinian detainees, all sentenced to life imprisonment for committing or participating in attacks in which Israelis died, will be permanently exiled. The agreement also provides for the release of over 1,000 more Palestinians during the first phase of the ceasefire, lasting 42 days.
PA ready to assume "full responsibilities" in Gaza
The Palestinian National Authority (PNA), which governs in reduced parts of the occupied West Bank, said on Sunday that it has completed preparations to "assume full responsibilities in Gaza" and once again rejected "any attempt to separate or divide" the Strip, as reported by Efe.
In a statement from the prime minister's office released on the first day of the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, the PNA reported an extraordinary session of its cabinet held on Sunday.
EU hopes the release of 3 hostages will open a "new chapter" between Israelis and Palestinians
The European Union welcomed on Sunday with hope the entry into force of the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, which released three Israeli hostages, emphasizing that it must be "maintained" to open "a new chapter" for Israelis and Palestinians, as well as for the entire region.
"Romi Gonen, Emily Damari, and Doron Steinbrecher are free. The others must follow. Seeing the hostages reunited with their families fills our hearts with hope," said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on her social media.
The German leader expressed her wish that the release of these first three hostages by the Hamas Islamist group "be the beginning of a new chapter for Israel and the Palestinian people."
Biden announces the release of four more hostages next weekend
U.S. President Joe Biden announced that four more Israeli hostages will be released next weekend, following the successful release of three kidnapped on Sunday, and Hamas reported that the next release will take place on Saturday, as reported by Europa Press.
"After the ceasefire, the hostages begin to be released. Three Israeli women held for 470 days. Four more women within seven days," Biden said in a message posted on his social media account. "And then three hostages every seven days, including two Americans in this first phase," explained the U.S. president. "We pray for the long recovery that lies ahead," he concluded.
Minister Smotrich, who voted against the ceasefire, celebrates the return of the hostages to Israel
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who voted against the ceasefire agreement with Hamas, celebrated on Sunday the arrival in Israel of the first three hostages released by the Islamist group: "Emily, Doron, and Romi, welcome home!"
"I oppose the agreement with every fiber of my being and believe it endangers the State of Israel. At the same time, I am filled with joy for every brother and sister who returns home from Hamas' captivity," emphasized the far-right minister, leader of the Religious Zionism party, crucial for the stability of Benjamin Netanyahu's government.
"An entire people is proud of you, is moved, and embraces you endlessly!" assured the far-right leader, as reported by Efe.
Over 300 trucks of aid enter Gaza from Egypt on the first day of the ceasefire
At least 330 trucks of humanitarian aid entered the Gaza Strip from Egypt on Sunday as part of the first day of the ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, reported Egyptian media.
"330 aid trucks entered the Kerem Shalom and Al Auya crossings, including 20 fuel trucks," reported the Al Qahera News channel, close to Egyptian intelligence, as reported by Efe.
Most of the aid trucks are loaded with non-perishable foods such as rice, legumes, pasta, and oil, as well as water containers, personal belongings, sanitary materials, and fuel.
"Thank you for bringing Emily home"
Shortly after confirming that the three hostages had been released, Emily Damari's mother, the British-Israeli hostage, issued a statement thanking the release of her daughter: "After 471 days, Emily is finally home." "I want to thank everyone who never stopped fighting for Emily during this terrible experience and who never stopped saying her name. In Israel, Great Britain, the United States, and around the world. Thank you for bringing Emily home."
Mrs. Damari added that while "Emily's nightmare" has ended, the "impossible wait" continues for other families.
In the images shared by the Israeli army, it is noticeable that Emily is missing two fingers on her left hand. Emily was shot in the hand on the day she was kidnapped.
Mandy Damari, mother of one of the three hostages released on Sunday by the Hamas terrorist group, has posted a message on her X account, saying "Emily is home," showing a photo of a screenshot from a mobile phone. In it, you can see the video call between Mandy and her daughter, now together, with Mandy's other son.