GAZA STRIP: Three female Israeli hostages have been released by Hamas under a new ceasefire deal in Gaza.
The three women – Romi Gonen, Doron Steinbrecher and Emily Damari, who is also a British national – have been transferred to the Red Cross and are on their way toward the Israeli military and security forces in the Gaza strip, according to a statement on Sunday (Jan 19).
The hostages are now being taken to Israeli Defence Forces in Gaza and will then be transported to a border-adjacent location that was prepared in advance for their receipt, where their families will meet them. From there military helicopters will fly them to hospitals across Israel.
Israel will now begin preparations for the immediate release of 90 Palestinian prisoners, 30 for each of the hostages released. The list is comprised of 69 women and 21 men, some of whom are minors.
The transfer comes hours after the start of a Qatari and Egyptian-mediated deal that's backed by Washington, which stipulates an initial six-week truce during which 33 hostages will be freed by Hamas in return for hundreds of Palestinians jailed by Israel. Today's swap is the first to take place as part of the agreement.
Steinbrecher, 31, and Damari, 28, were kidnapped from Kfar Aza, and Gonen, 24, was abducted at the Nova music festival on Oct 7, 2023.
Thousands of ordinary Israelis have gathered outside the Tel Aviv Museum of Art in what has become known as Hostages Square to watch and wait as the three women are returned home. – Bloomberg
