After 471 Days, Hamas Releases Three Israeli Hostages Under Ceasefire Deal

Jan 19, 2025, 03:40 PM

A ceasefire between Israel and Hamas came into effect on Sunday morning, leading to the release of three Israeli female hostages who had been held captive for 471 days in Gaza City. The hostages—Romi Gonen, Doron Steinbrecher, and Emily Damari—were handed over by Hamas to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and are reported to be in good health. The Red Cross then transferred them to Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) troops inside the Gaza Strip, in the Netzarim Corridor area. Footage released by the IDF shows the moment the hostages crossed from Gaza into Israel, where their mothers were waiting to meet them. The release marks the first phase of a ceasefire deal, with the three women being the first of 33 Israeli hostages that Hamas is expected to free. Israel is expected to release about 90 Palestinian prisoners as part of the agreement over the next several weeks.