Hamas Releases Three Hostages in Ceasefire Deal, Sparking Hope and Trepidation Among Israelis

Three Hostages Released in Ceasefire Deal

Three hostages held by Hamas were released on Sunday after 471 days in captivity. This release is part of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and the Palestinian militant group. The agreement also includes a gradual release of dozens of other captives over the next several weeks.

The truce and hostage release have sparked mixed reactions among Israelis. Some are hopeful that this is the first step towards ending the 15-month war. Others fear that the deal could collapse before all hostages are returned, or that they will be in poor health. There are also concerns that the number of captives who have died is higher than previously reported.

The Released Hostages

The three hostages released on Sunday are Romi Gonen, Emily Damari, and Doron Steinbrecher.

Romi Gonen was kidnapped from a music festival in southern Israel on October 7, 2023. Her mother, Merav, has been a vocal advocate for her return, appearing regularly on Israeli news programs and traveling abroad to raise awareness.

Emily Damari is a British-Israeli citizen who was kidnapped from her apartment on Kibbutz Kfar Aza. Her mother, Mandy, thanked supporters who "never stopped saying her name."

Doron Steinbrecher is a veterinary nurse who loves animals. She was kidnapped from her apartment on Kibbutz Kfar Aza, where she lived with her neighbor, Emily Damari. Her brother, Dor, recalled her last phone call, in which she said, "Mom, I'm scared. I'm hiding under the bed and I hear them trying to enter my apartment."

The Remaining Hostages

Around 100 hostages still remain in Gaza. These include American-Israeli Keith Siegel, 65, and twins Gali and Ziv Berman, 27, all from Kibbutz Kfar Aza.

Militants also hold the bodies of two Israeli soldiers, Hadar Goldin and Oron Shaul, who were killed in 2014. They also hold the bodies of two Israelis who crossed into Gaza in 2014 and 2015.

The Hostages Families Forum, which represents relatives of the captives, called the Shaul family an "inseparable part" of the group. They continue to advocate for the return of all remaining hostages and the bodies of the deceased.