Three hostages were released on Sunday, January 19, 2025, as part of the deal for a long-awaited ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. According to the Israeli Defence Force, IDF, the hostages, three women, were in relatively good condition and are now back home in Israel.
Al-Qassam Brigades handed over the three Israeli hostages to Red Cross at al-Saraya as part of first phase of ceasefire and prisoner swap deal between Israel and Hamas, in Gaza City, Gaza on Sunday, CBS News reports.
The hostages released were confirmed as 24-year-old Romi Gonen, 31-year-old Doron Steinbrecher and 28-year-old Emily Damari.
They are the first of 33 that Hamas is expected to free during the first phase of the deal.
A transfer to the Israel Defense Forces and Israel Security Authority got underway just after 5:30 p.m. local time, the agencies said in a joint announcement. Both IDF special forces and ISA forces accompanied the freed hostages back to Israeli territory, where they were taken straight to hospital for initial medical evaluations, according to the announcement.
“The commanders and soldiers of the Israel Defense Forces salute and embrace the released hostages as they make their way home to the State of Israel,” they said.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the released hostages had endured a horrific ordeal.
“I know, we all know, they have been through hell. They are emerging from darkness into light, from bondage to freedom,” he said.
“They appear to be in good health,” President Biden said in brief remarks as they were arriving in Israel.
The ceasefire officially began earlier Sunday after a last-minute delay of almost three hours. The fighting continued past the initially provisioned 8:30 a.m. local (1:30 a.m. Eastern) deadline as the Israeli military said Hamas had failed to provide the names of the first three hostages due to be released, per the terms of the agreement.
In Gaza, fighter jets and drones were reported to have disappeared from the skies as the deal took effect, and at least 191 aid trucks were said to have begun entering into Gaza through the Karem Shalom crossing.
The first phase of the ceasefire calls for Hamas to release 33 hostages over a six-week period. They include women, children and hostages over 50 years old, a draft viewed by CBS News said.
The plan says three living female hostages will be returned on Day 1. Four hostages will be released on Day 7, and the remaining 26 over the next five weeks.
The first phase of the ceasefire calls for Hamas to release 33 hostages over a six-week period. They include women, children and hostages over 50 years old, a draft viewed by CBS News said.
The plan says three living female hostages will be returned on Day 1. Four hostages will be released on Day 7, and the remaining 26 over the next five weeks.
The pause-the second in the 15-month-long war — was achieved through joint pressure from President-elect Donald Trump and the outgoing administration of President Biden.
On Wednesday, Mr. Biden and Qatar’s prime minister separately announced the deal after a week of intense negotiations mediated by Qatar, the U.S. and Egypt.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump welcomed the impending release of the three hostages.
“Hostages starting to come out today! Three wonderful young women will be first,” he wrote Sunday morning.
In a rare meeting during the Jewish Sabbath, Israel’s full Cabinet voted to approve the deal.
