Israel Hamas Ceasefire: Palestine group Hamas handed over three Israeli hostages to the Red Cross after the ceasefire came into force in Gaza on Sunday (January 19, 2025). All three hostages are women. A senior Hamas official said that the three women were officially handed over to the Red Cross in Gaza City before being returned to Israel. He has been released after spending 471 days in captivity.
According to news agency AP, a large screen outside the defense headquarters in Tel Aviv showed three female hostages getting out of a vehicle surrounded by armed Hamas men. On this occasion, thousands of Israeli people were celebrating, hugging and crying. The hostages were loaded into vehicles of the International Committee of the Red Cross, while the crowd of fighters chanted the name of Hamas.
What did the IDF say?
The Israeli Defense Force IDF said the three hostages have been handed over and will undergo a medical examination. “The three freed hostages are being flown back to Israeli territory along with IDF special forces and ISA forces, where they will undergo medical treatment,” the army said in a statement.
Meanwhile, buses were waiting for the release of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli custody in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Hamas said that the first group to be released in exchange of hostages included 69 women and 21 teenage boys.
Who are the three hostage women who were released?
The three women released by Hamas are Romi Gonen, 24, who was abducted from the Nova music festival, Emily Damir, 28, and Doron Steinbrecher, 31, who was abducted from Kibbutz Kfar Aja.
Also read: Israel Hamas Conflict: ‘No ceasefire without the list of hostages’, Israeli PM Netanyahu’s ultimatum to Hamas
