The Israeli Army announced the release of three Israeli hostages held by the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas. The release took place as part of the initiative to exchange captive militias from Gaza for Palestinian prisoners, amid a ceasefire that began that same morning.
The three released women were identified as Romi Gonen, 24 years old; Emily Damari, 28 years old; and Doron Steinbrecher, 31 years old. The exchange was made in return for the release of 90 Palestinian prisoners. This is the start of six weeks of gradual exchanges between 33 hostages and over 1,900 prisoners.
Damari and Steinbrecher were kidnapped from their homes in the kibbutz Kfar Aza during the massacre of October 7, while Gonen was abducted at the Nova music festival, another key location of the Palestinian militias' attack against Israel that triggered the Gaza war.
According to sources from the Red Cross, the three hostages are in good health and are awaiting further examinations. The mothers were summoned to a nearby military base close to the Gaza border to accompany their daughters to Sheba Hospital in Tel Aviv once they have been examined.
The released hostages are being accompanied by special forces of the IDF and the Shabak on their return to Israeli territory. The Israeli government has confirmed that the three civilians are already in Israel and are returning to their homes. The Israeli Army assured that the hostages are being received by an elite force to ensure their return in perfect condition.
