Fifteen months after their abduction, three Israeli hostages were released by Palestinian militant group Hamas and reunited with their families.
Newsweek has reached out to the Israeli government via email for comment.
Why It Matters
These first releases mark the initial implementation of the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas after 15 months of conflict. Some 90 Palestinian prisoners were released by Israel early on Monday as part of the deal.
This first phase of the agreement is expected to last for six weeks. It is to include the release of hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, a withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza and an influx of humanitarian aid to Gaza.
What To Know
Photos Show Release of Israeli Hostages
Romi Gonen, 24, Emily Damari, 28, and Doron Steinbrecher, 31, were the first hostages to be released, transported by van and handed over to the Red Cross in Gaza.
The three women have now been reunited with their families. They were all taken hostage on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched an attack on Southern Israel, killing approximately 1,200 people—mostly civilians—and abducting 250 others, with around 100 still missing and many feared dead. Israel responded with an offensive onto Gaza, which has killed over 46,000 people, according to The Associated Press, which cites figures from the Gazan Health Ministry.
They are among the first 33 Israeli hostages who are set to be released in the coming six weeks as part of the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas.
In video footage released by the Israeli government, the women could be seen weeping and hugging their family members.
Thousands gathered to watch the footage in Tel Aviv at the Hostages Squares, a plaza where families of the hostages and others have been protesting weekly in order to demand a ceasefire deal.
'Gift Bags' From Hamas
As the three hostages were released, they were reportedly given a so-called "gift bag," by Hamas.
The bags contained gifts and souvenirs, including pictures of them in captivity, a commemorative photo of Gaza and a certificate, according to a report from the Israeli outlet Ynet.
Photos Show Palestinians After the Ceasefire
At around 1 a.m. local time, buses carrying 90 Palestinian detainees, all of whom were women or teenagers, left the gates of the Ofer Prison, which is located near the West Bank city of Ramallah. as they exited, fireworks erupted, crowds shouted that "God is greater" and some raised Hamas flags.
All of the prisoners being released had been detained over what Israel refers to as offenses related to its security, which encompasses everything from throwing stones to attempted murder.
What People Are Saying
U.N. humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher has said that, "This is a moment of tremendous hope...Fragile, yet vital."
Khalida Jarrar, a leading member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine who was arrested in late 2023 and is the most prominent of the Palestinian detainees freed, told The Associated Press: "There's this double feeling we're living in, on the one hand, this feeling of freedom, that we thank everyone for, and on the other hand, this pain, of losing so many Palestinian martyrs."
President Joe Biden spoke late on Sunday morning, praising the deal: "[T]oday the guns in Gaza are silent" and this deal was "one of the toughest negotiations I have been a part of." Posting on X, formerly Twitter, he wrote that he prays for the hostages and the "long recovery ahead."
The Prime Minister of Israel's office wrote on X: "Israel has received the list of the hostages who are due to be released today according to the framework. The security establishment is now checking the details. Coordinator for the Hostages and the Missing Brig.-Gen. (Res.) Gal Hirsch has initially notified the hostages' families via IDF representatives. We request the media and public not to circulate the details of the list, act with caution and safeguard the privacy of the families."
What's Next
The next release of hostages and prisoners is due to take place on Saturday, January 25.
Details about the second and third phases of the deal are still not clear, though Biden has recently said the second phase would include a "permanent end" to the Israel-Hamas war and that the third phase would focus on the reconstruction of Gaza.
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About the writer
Marni Rose McFall is a Newsweek reporter based in London, U.K. Her focus is on U.S. politics, social affairs and ... Read more