Three Hostages Returned to Israel From Captivity in Gaza

A ceasefire between Israel and Hamas took hold Sunday, seemingly starting a six-week pause in 15 months of fighting in Gaza and setting the stage for the release of dozens of hostages held by the terrorists, including three young women freed in the first hours of the truce.

The truce started at 11:15 a.m. local time and hours later, a Red Cross convoy headed into Gaza, the narrow strip of land along the shores of the Mediterranean Sea, and secured the release of Romi Gonen, 24, Emily Damari, 28, and Doron Steinbrecher, 31.

The Israel Defense Forces announced the news in a short message on social media on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Israel began to move dozens of Palestinian prisoners toward Gaza. Israel had pledged to free them as part of the ceasefire deal agreed to last week after a year of futile negotiations.

Gonen had been abducted from a music festival on Oct. 7, 2023, during the shock Hamas attack on Israel that killed 1,200 people and led to the abduction of about 250 hostages, while the other two women handed over to Israeli authorities were kidnapped from Kibbutz Kfar Aza. Damari is an Israeli-British dual citizen.

The ceasefire was delayed for three hours when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said it would not start until Hamas provided a list of the three hostages set for release Sunday.

READ MORE: Israel and Hamas Agree to Ceasefire Deal

The truce was announced last week after intensive mediation by the United States, Qatar and Egypt. Joe Biden’s outgoing administration and President-elect Donald Trump’s team had both pressed for an agreement to be reached before Trump’s inauguration and return to the White House on Monday.

“Hostages starting to come out today! Three wonderful young women will be first,” Trump wrote on his social media platform, Truth Social.

The terms of the pact call for a 42-day first phase with the release of 33 of the 99 hostages believed to be held by Hamas and hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and detainees freed. About two-thirds of the hostages are believed to be alive, with the rest killed in fighting or having died. 

– Based on a report from VOA.