On Sunday, Hamas released three young Israeli women. According to reports, they were given tasteless memories of their time in captivity. A video shows former hostages Romi Gonen, Emily Damari and Doron Steinbrecher with paper bags.
Hebrew media reported that it contained a map of the Gaza Strip, photos of them from their time in captivity and a “certificate of gratitude.” After their release, civilians Romi Gonen (24), Emily Damari (28) and Doron Steinbrecher (31) were surrounded by a large crowd in a vehicle in Gaza. Armed Hamas members accompanied them and pushed people back.
According to the Red Cross, the three women are in good condition given the circumstances. Their physical condition is good enough that they can now focus on reuniting with their relatives, Tel Aviv hospital director Yahel Frankel-Nir said. The treatment of medical questions can be postponed for several hours.
Here you can see the video showing the paper bags.
Announcements on airplanes
However, Emily Damari lost two fingers during the kidnapping by Hamas, and the 28-year-old’s bandaged hand was seen in photos. Terrorists kidnapped the three women during the massacre in Israel on October 7, 2023, and have been holding them in the Gaza Strip ever since.
The Israeli airline El Al made announcements about the release of the hostages on all its flights worldwide. “El Al and the entire Israeli people are waiting for all our brothers and sisters to return home,” a control center official said.
Here you see a photo of Doron Steinbrecher with her family.
Are most of the hostages still alive?
94 people kidnapped from Israel are now being held in the Gaza Strip. Thirty of them are expected to be released in the coming weeks. The Israeli government is optimistic that most of them are still alive. Three to four hostages will be released every week during the first six weeks of the ceasefire between the Israeli government and the terrorist organization Hamas.
In return, 1,900 Palestinians will be released from Israeli prisons, 90 of which started on Sunday. The six-week ceasefire will be followed by a second and third phase, although further negotiations will be necessary.
Secretary of State praises Trump
“We saw the images from Gaza today. “Hamas is still in power in Gaza,” said Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar. That has to change. The politician also acknowledged the role of future US President Donald Trump: “President Trump’s strong commitment in recent weeks has been very, very useful. We worked together to achieve a goal that was very important to us (…).”
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.
