Three Israeli hostages were successfully handed over to the military as the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas passed its first major test. The Israeli military confirmed on Sunday that the first three hostages, held by Hamas in Gaza, had been transferred to the Red Cross and were en route to Israeli forces. This development occurred just hours after the ceasefire took effect.
“Held hostages for 471 days, Romi Gonen, Emily Damari and Doron Steinbrecher have returned to Israel as part of the ongoing framework to release the hostages,” said Israel Defence Forces (IDF) on X.
Live footage aired by Al Jazeera showed the hostages walking between vehicles as their convoy passed through Gaza City. Crowds surrounded the vehicles, with many onlookers filming the moment with their phones. Armed men wearing green Hamas headbands escorted the vehicles, struggling to maintain order amid the thousands who had gathered.
Cheers in Tel Aviv
In Tel Aviv, thousands of people gathered to watch the unfolding news on large screens. When the hostages’ release was confirmed, the crowd erupted in cheers. For months, these gatherings had been a focal point for protests demanding a ceasefire deal.
The truce marks the first step in a six-week period of calm, offering hope for an end to the devastating 15-month conflict. It also raises prospects for the release of dozens of hostages held by militants. However, the agreement’s fragility was underscored by a last-minute delay by Hamas, which postponed the truce’s start by nearly three hours.
Even before the ceasefire formally took hold at 11:15 a.m. local time, celebrations broke out across Gaza, with some Palestinians beginning to return to their homes. Israel, in turn, announced the names of the first three hostages to be freed in exchange for the release of 90 Palestinian prisoners.
Names of Hostages Released
The Israeli government identified the three hostages as Romi Gonen, 24, Emily Damari, 28, and Doron Steinbrecher, 31. Gonen was abducted from the Nova music festival, while Damari, a dual Israeli-British citizen, and Steinbrecher were taken from Kibbutz Kfar Aza. The families of the hostages approved the publication of their names.
Casualties Before Ceasefire
Hours before the truce took effect, Israeli fire killed at least 26 people in Gaza, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. It was not immediately clear if the casualties were civilians or fighters. The Israeli military has urged people to stay away from forces retreating to a buffer zone within Gaza.
The ceasefire agreement prompted backlash from Israel’s hardline national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir. His Jewish Power faction announced its departure from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government in protest. While this weakens Netanyahu’s coalition, it is not expected to impact the ceasefire agreement.
Recovery of Soldier’s Body
In a separate operation, Israel recovered the body of Oron Shaul, a soldier killed during the 2014 Israel-Hamas war. Shaul’s body, along with that of Hadar Goldin, had remained in Gaza since the war. The recovery of Shaul’s body was described as a special operation carried out within Gaza.
The ceasefire agreement is seen as a critical, albeit tentative, step toward ending hostilities. The release of hostages and the return of prisoners will likely be key indicators of whether the truce can hold and pave the way for lasting peace.
(With agency inputs)