Three hostages arrive in Israel from Gaza as fragile ceasefire passes first hurdle – National
The first three hostages freed from Gaza have arrived in Israel, the military announced on Sunday, after several hours of ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. Their mothers were waiting to meet them.
The images show three women walking to Red Cross vehicles in Gaza City, surrounded by a crowd that swelled to thousands as people raised their cell phones and panicked in the cars. The vehicles were escorted by masked, armed men wearing blue Hamas headbands who struggled to guard the transport.
The three women were taken for a medical examination. “They seem to be in good health,” President Joe Biden said succinctly.
Pictures released by the Israeli military showed them walking between the Red Cross and soldiers, while one of the women, Emily Damari, 28, raised her bandaged hand in triumph. The military said he lost two fingers in the attack that sparked the war.
In this photo released by the Israeli Army, Emily Damari, right, and her mother Mandy use a smart phone near kibbutz Reim, in southern Israel after Emily was freed from captivity by Hamas terrorists in Gaza, Sunday, Jan . 19, 2025. (Israeli Military via AP) Unauthorized.
In Tel Aviv, thousands of people who had gathered to watch the news on big screens erupted in applause. For months, many gathered in the square to demand a ceasefire agreement. The women’s relatives jumped up, clapped their hands and cried.
“The whole nation welcomes you,” said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Romi Gonen, 24, and Doron Steinbrecher, 31, were also released. Gonen was kidnapped at the Nova music festival, while others were kidnapped at Kibbutz Kfar Aza. Damari is an Israeli and British citizen while Steinbrecher has Israeli and Romanian citizenship.
Doron Steinbrecher, left, and his mother Simona hold hands near kibbutz Reim, in southern Israel after Doron was released from captivity by Hamas terrorists in Gaza, Sunday, Jan. 19, 2025. (Israeli Army via AP) Uncredited.
Romi Gonen, right, and her mother Merav hold hands near kibbutz Reim, in southern Israel after Romi was released from captivity by Hamas terrorists in Gaza, Sunday, Jan. 19, 2025. (Israeli Army via AP) Uncredited.
The ceasefire brings the first six weeks of calm and raises the prospect of the release of nearly 100 remaining hostages and an end to the devastating 15-month war. A last-minute delay by Hamas delayed the start of the deal for nearly three hours, but a spokesman for Hamas’ military wing later said it was committed to fighting.
Even before the operation began, celebrations broke out across Gaza and some Palestinians began to return home.
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Next was the release of 90 Palestinian prisoners later on Sunday. In the Israeli-controlled West Bank, families and friends gathered excitedly as cars honked and people waved the Palestinian flag.
The agreement, which began at 11:15 am local time, is the first step towards ending the conflict and returning hostages taken in Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023.
In the interim between the scheduled ceasefire and its commencement, Israeli fire killed at least 26 people, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. It did not say whether they were civilians or combatants. The army has warned people to stay away from Israeli forces as they withdraw to safety inside Gaza.
Meanwhile, the minister of national security of Israel, said that his group Jewish Power is leaving the government protesting the ceasefire. Itamar Ben-Gvir’s departure weakens Netanyahu’s coalition but will not derail the deal.
In another incident, Israel announced that it had recovered the body of Oron Shaul, a soldier killed in the 2014 Israel-Hamas war, in a special operation in Gaza. The bodies of Saul and another soldier, Hadari Goldin, were left after the 2014 war.
What’s next
A ceasefire agreement was announced last week after a year of mediation by the United States, Qatar and Egypt. The outgoing Biden administration and President-elect Donald Trump’s team had both pressed for a deal before Monday’s inauguration.
Netanyahu on Saturday warned that he has the support of Trump to continue fighting if necessary.
The first phase of the 42-day ceasefire should see the gradual return of 33 hostages and the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and detainees. The next release of the hostages is expected on Saturday.
There should also be an increase in humanitarian aid, with hundreds of trucks entering Gaza every day, more than Israel previously allowed. The UN World Food Program said the trucks started entering through two intersections. Biden’s top adviser on the Middle East, Brett McGurk, told CBS that an influx of trucks is expected on CBS 800 on Sunday.
This is the second end of the war, longer and more important than the week-long standoff in November 2023, which has the potential to end the war for good.
‘Happiness is mixed with pain’
On the other side of Gaza, there was relief and sorrow. This war has killed tens of thousands, destroyed large areas and displaced many people.
“This ceasefire was a joy mixed with pain, because my son was martyred in this war,” said Rami Nofal, a displaced man from Gaza City.
Masked soldiers were seen at other celebrations, where crowds chanted slogans in support of them, according to Associated Press reporters in Gaza. Hamas-affiliated police began planting in the community after falling asleep due to Israeli airstrikes.
Some families left for their homes on foot, their goods loaded on donkey carts.
In the southern city of Rafah, residents returned to find extensive damage. Others found human remains in the debris, including skulls.
“It’s like watching a Hollywood horror movie,” resident Mohamed Abu Taha said as he surveyed the ruins of his family’s home.
Already, the Israeli soldiers were retreating from the areas. Residents of Beit Lahiya and Jabaliya in northern Gaza told AP they did not see Israeli soldiers there.
Israelis are divided over the ceasefire agreement
In Israel, people remain divided over this agreement.
Asher Pizem, 35, from the city of Sderot, said the agreement merely postponed the next conflict with Hamas. He also criticized Israel for allowing aid to Gaza, saying it would contribute to the uprising of this group.
“They will take time and attack again,” he said while looking at the smoldering ruins of Gaza on a small hill south of Israel and other Israelis gathered there.
When Biden was asked on Sunday if he had any concerns about the regrouping of Hamas, he said no.
A big toll
The misery of the war has been great, and new details are now coming to light. The head of the Rafah municipality in Gaza, Ahmed al-Sufi, said that most of the infrastructure including water, electricity and roads have been destroyed, in addition to thousands of homes.
More than 46,000 Palestinians have been killed, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which says women and children make up more than half of the dead, but there is no breakdown between civilians and fighters.
The Hamas-led offensive in southern Israel that sparked the war killed more than 1,200 people, most of them civilians, and the army took about 250 hostages. More than 100 hostages were released during the ceasefire week in November 2023.
About 90 percent of Gaza’s population has been displaced. Reconstruction – if the ceasefire reaches its final stage – will take several years at least. Big questions about the future of Gaza, political and otherwise, are still unknown.
Magdy reported from Cairo and Goldenberg from Tel Aviv, Israel. Associated Press reporters Josef Federman in Jerusalem, Sam Mednick in Ramallah, West Bank, and Mohammad Jahjouh in Khan Younis, Gaza Strip, contributed to this report.
