Politics

Today the first three Israeli hostages are released

After 471 days of war, a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas went into effect at 11:15 a.m. Sunday, shortly after the Israeli Prime Minister’s office Benjamin Netanyahu announced that it had received the list of hostages that Gaza’s ruling group would release, after days of delays. Hamas sent Israel the names of three hostages slated for release today, Palestinian and Israeli media reported. The list, requested under the terms of the ceasefire agreement, was sent to mediators and later handed over to Israeli officials, sources told public broadcaster Kan. The names are: ⁠Emily Damari,⁠ ⁠Romi Gonen, Doron Steinbrecher.

Romi Gonen23, was taken from the Nova music festival after being shot in the hand. The freed hostages earlier reported that she was alive but needed urgent medical attention for her hand wound.

Emily Damari, 28 years old, she was kidnapped from her apartment in the kibbutz of Kfar Aza after being hit in the hand and suffering shrapnel wounds to her leg. The British-Israeli citizen was allegedly blindfolded and driven to Gaza in her own car.

Doron Steinbrecher, 31 years old, was taken from her apartment in Kfar Aza after sending a final voice message to friends saying: “They have arrived, they have taken me.” The veterinary nurse was alone in her apartment when Hamas terrorists invaded the kibbutz which we at Panorama.it visited last February.

Israeli fighter jets continued to strike targets in Gaza even after the ceasefire, scheduled for 8:30 am, was breached. The IDF confirmed the attacks, blaming Hamas’ initial failure to fulfill its obligations under the agreement. Meanwhile, the Palestinian Civil Defense Agency reported that eight Palestinians were killed in the airstrikes. According to the IDF, the operations targeted specific locations in Gaza, the identity of which was not revealed, with the promise of further details to follow.

At the same time, the Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben-Gvir, and its far-right Otzma Yehudit party, announced their resignations from the governing coalition on Sunday morning. This decision had been announced if the ceasefire and hostage agreement had been approved. Ben-Gvir, supported by the Minister of Heritage, Amichai Eliyahuand the Minister of the Negev, Galilee and National Resilience, Yitzhak Wasserlaufhanded over his letters of resignation to the prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “From this moment on, the Otzma Yehudit party is no longer part of the coalition,” the party said.

Donald Trump stressed the importance of maintaining the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, but also stated that he left it to the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahufull freedom of action to deal with the situation. In an interview with NBC, when asked about confidence in the release of the hostages, Trump responded: “We’ll see that very soon and it better hold.” This story must come to an end. We want it to end, but do what is necessary.” Donald Trump also announced an upcoming meeting with Netanyahuwithout however providing further details.

Update: Hamas is handing over the first three Israeli abductees, Emily Damari, Doron Steinbracher and Romi Gonen, to the Red Cross.