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Four hundred and seventy-one days. That’s how long it’s been since the hostages taken by Hamas on October 7, 2023, have been home, safe in Israel, since they’ve seen their family members. The ceasefire deal brokered between Israel and Hamas earlier this week went into effect on Sunday morning and, as part of the deal, the first three of 33 hostages set to be released during Phase 1 of the deal have been released. 

Hamas initially delayed providing the list of those who would be released Sunday, citing logistical issues — “Communication between operatives is conducted physically via couriers, and it takes time to agree on the names and the location of the hostages” — but finally, early Sunday morning, their names were released:

A little more background on these first three being welcomed home:

Hostages starting to come out today! Three wonderful young women will be first.

As details of the deal have emerged, there has been marked criticism, particularly as to the number and nature of prisoners Israel agreed to release in exchange for the hostages. There’s also been a great deal of focus on the littlest hostage, Kfir Bibas, only eight months old when he and his then-4-year-old brother, Ariel, were kidnapped, along with their mother, Shiri. Their father, Yarden Bibas, was also taken hostage. Saturday marked Kfir’s second birthday — both of his birthdays have been spent in captivity. We don’t yet know when the Bibas family will be released — or if they’re even still alive. We can only hope and pray for their safe return, along with the remaining hostages. 

For now, we can at least breathe a sigh of relief and be glad for the knowledge that Doron, Emily, and Romi are back home on Israeli soil and, hopefully, can begin to heal. 
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