The horror is over! Three hostages were allowed to leave the Gaza Strip for Israel on Sunday. After 471 days of captivity, the women were able to hug their mothers again.
The three women, aged between 24 and 31, were initially handed over to the International Committee of the Red Cross on Sunday afternoon.
Romi Gonen, Doron Steinbrecher and Emily Damari were then brought to Israel from the Gaza Strip. At 5:59 p.m. local time, the army finally wrote to X: “You are home.”
Thousands of people watched the transfer and release on a screen at Geiselplatz in Tel Aviv. When the success was announced, all barriers had also been broken among the family members. According to the military, the families followed the women’s return at a secret location, accompanied by soldiers. An Israeli army video documented the surreal moment.
At 5:30 p.m., the three women were able to hug their mothers again after months of captivity at an outpost. “After 471 days, Emily is finally home,” Mandy Damari said in a statement to the Hostage Families Forum.
She wanted to thank everyone who continued to fight for Emily during this terrible ordeal. Romi Gonen and Doron Steinbrecher were also reunited with their loved ones.
Every hostage must be released and there must be humanitarian aid for those still waiting to come home. Damari asked for privacy for her daughter and her family.
Emily Damari lost two fingers during kidnapping by Hamas. Several Israeli media reported this unanimously, citing Damari’s family. The young woman’s bandaged hand was also seen in photos of a joint video call between the 28-year-old and her mother and relatives.
Friends of Damari celebrated her release after more than fifteen months of Hamas violence. One of them lifted an Israeli television reporter on his shoulders and danced as she reported the dramatic events.
94 people kidnapped from Israel are now being held in the Gaza Strip. Another 30 hostages will be released over the next six weeks, the first phase of the deal. Four more abductees are expected to be released within a week. According to Hamas, the next transfer will take place this Saturday.
In return, it was agreed that Israel would release 1,904 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli prisons in exchange for a total of 33 hostages.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
