After 471 Days in Hamas Captivity, Three Women Hostages Return to Israel

After 471 harrowing days in Hamas captivity, three Israeli women Doron Steinbrecher, Romi Gonen, and Emily Damari have returned to Israel. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed their release on Sunday evening. Following their arrival, the women were transported to Ramat Gan for medical evaluations.

The IDF has urged the public to respect the privacy of the returnees and their families, emphasizing the need for sensitivity during this time.

The women were freed as part of the first phase of a ceasefire agreement. In exchange, Israel released 90 Arab prisoners, none of whom were convicted of murder. Of these, 78 returned to their homes in Judea and Samaria, while 12 were released to eastern Jerusalem. The prisoners were transported from the Ofer Prison to designated release points.

• Doron Steinbrecher, 31, a veterinary nurse, was kidnapped from her home in Kibbutz Kfar Aza. She requires daily medication for a chronic condition. Her last sign of life was a Hamas propaganda video released in January 2024.

• Romi Gonen, 24, was abducted from the Nova Music Festival after three people in her car were murdered. Gonen had been shot and was in poor health during captivity, according to accounts from previously freed hostages.

• Emily Damari, 28, a dual Israeli-UK citizen, was taken from her apartment in Kibbutz Kfar Aza’s youth neighborhood after being shot in the hand. Her mother, Mandy, actively campaigned in both Israel and Britain for her release.

The ceasefire, delayed due to last-minute complications, went into effect Sunday at 11:15 AM after Israel received a list of the first hostages to be returned. Later, Hamas named the three women on its Telegram channel.

Hours before the ceasefire began, the IDF announced it had recovered the body of Staff Sgt. Oron Shaul, held in Gaza since 2014.

The first phase of the agreement aims to secure the release of 33 Israeli hostages over several weeks in exchange for hundreds of Arab prisoners. The final count of prisoners released will depend on how many hostages are alive. Of the 92 remaining hostages, over 30 have been declared deceased since Hamas’s brutal October 7 attacks, which killed 1,200 people and saw 252 hostages taken.

This significant moment reflects Israel’s unwavering commitment to bringing its people home. Share this article or subscribe to our newsletter for updates on the ongoing efforts to ensure their safe return.