Hamas Releases Three Israeli Hostages as Ceasefire Moves Forward

Hamas has sent the first three hostages back to Israel as part of the ceasefire deal that both sides hope will end the nearly 15-month conflict.

Newsweek reached out to the White House and Trump transition team via email and Israeli prime minister's office via text for comment on Sunday morning.

The Context

Israel initially delayed the exchange, claiming they needed Hamas to release the list of names of hostages that would be freed. Hamas complied late on Sunday morning and informed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office of the list of names, The Times of Israel reported.

Per the government's statement, Israel and Hamas will begin exchanging hostages and prisoners on Sunday, January 19 in the first of three phases of the deal.

Phase one of the deal is expected to begin on Sunday and will last for six weeks. The first phase will 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.

Details about the second and third phases are less clear, although Biden last week 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.

What To Know

Romi Gonen, 24; Emily Damari, 28; and Doron Steinbrecher, 31, were the first hostages to be released, transported by van from Gaza to the Red Cross to facilitate the exchange.

All three women were taken hostage on October 7, 2023, during Hamas' attack on Israel. Gonen was at the Nova music festival and was shot in the hand during her abduction, according to local media.

President Joe Biden spoke late on Sunday morning local time to praise the deal, saying that "today the guns in Gaza are silent" and this deal was "one of the toughest negotiations I have been a part of."

"Many of those who have followed these negotiations will attest that the road to this deal has not been easy at all, and a long road," Biden said. "But we've reached the point today because of the pressure Israel built on Hamas, backed by the United States. Some said my policy of a firm support for Israel was relentlessly pursuing diplomacy, and I risked drawing America into a wider war in the region."

He added: "I listened to those voices, many of whom I respected a great deal, but I concluded abandoning the course I was on would not have led us to the ceasefire we are seeing today, but instead it would have risked the wider war in the region so many feared."

Biden then detailed the great changes to the Middle East, including the end of the Assad regime in Syria and the significant weakening of Hezbollah in Lebanon.

"Israel's campaign was extremely successful," Biden said, who also told reporters that he was "proud of the deal" before exiting the stage.

The Full List of Israeli Hostages

While Israel wanted a list of hostages released in each exchange, Hamas did provide a full list of the 33 hostages to be released in the first phase.

The hostages to be released are:

• Liri Albag
• Itzhak Elgarat
• Karina Ariev
• Ohad Ben Ami
• Ariel Bibas
• Yarden Bibas
• Kfir Bibas
• Shiri Bibas
• Agam Berger
• Gonen Romi
• Daniella Gilboa
• Emily Damari
• Sagui Dekel-Chen
• Iair Horn
• Omer Wenkert
• Alexandre Sasha Troufanov
• Arbel Yehoud
• Ohad Yahalomi
• Eliya Cohen
• Or Levy
• Naama Levy
• Oded Lifshitz
• Gadi Moshe Mozes,
• Avraham (Avera) Mengisto,
• Shlomo Mantzur
• Keith Samuel Sigal
• Tsachi Idan
• Ofer Kalderon
• Tal Shoham
• Doron Steinbrecher
• Omer Shem Tov
• Hisham Al-Sayed
• Eli Sharabi

Some of these hostages, such as Dekel-Chen Sigal, are American citizens. This list does not include the deceased hostages who still have to be repatriated to their families.

What People Are Saying

The Prime Minister of Israel's office wrote on X, formerly Twitter: "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."

The full list referenced by the prime minister only refers to the three hostages released today and not the greater list of all 33 hostages.

Danny Danon, Israel's ambassador to the United Nations, wrote on X: "Romi, Doron and Emily are finally home with their families. We will do whatever it takes to bring all of our hostages home. Romi, Doron, and Emily, we thought of you every single day over the past 471 days. We prayed for your safety, and worked tirelessly for your release. Now, you are finally home. Sending you and your families a big hug and wishing you health and healing."

Jonathan Harounoff, Israel's international spokesperson to the U.N., told Newsweek: "Israel is committed to bringing every single one of our hostages home. The hostage framework Israel has reached has come at a great cost, but the State of Israel has a moral obligation to do everything in its power to return all of our hostages - the living and the deceased."

This is a developing story and more information will be added as it becomes available.

Update, 1/19/25 at 11:05 a.m. ET: This story has been updated with additional information and comments.

Update, 1/19/25 at 3:47 p.m. ET: This story has been updated with embedded photos and video.