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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said: “Romi, Doron, Emily, an entire nation embraces you.”
Romi Gonen
Romi Gonen and her mother Merav embrace after Romi was released from captivity by Hamas militants in Gaza. Hamas gunmen abducted Romi from the Nova music festival on 7 October 2023. Source: AP / AP
Gonen, a dancer, was 23 when Hamas gunmen abducted her from the Nova music festival during the 7 October 2023 attack.
On Sunday, her father, Eitan Gonen, posted on Facebook, saying: “Romi is coming home!”
Doron Steinbrecher
She then sent a voice message to her friends saying: “They’ve arrived, they have me.”
Doron Steinbrecher and her mother Simona embrace after Doron was released from captivity by Hamas militants in Gaza. Doron was abducted from her home in kibbutz Kfar Aza on 7 October 2023. Source: AP / AP
Steinbrecher’s family published a statement expressing gratitude after her release.
“After an unbearable 471 days, our beloved Dodo has finally returned to our arms. We want to express our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who supported and accompanied us along this journey,” the statement said.
Emily Damari
She grew up in London and is a fan of the Tottenham Hotspur football team.
Emily Damari and her mother Mandy were reunited on Sunday after Emily was released from captivity by Hamas militants in Gaza. Source: AP / AP
According to Damari’s mother, she was shot in the hand, injured by shrapnel in her leg, blindfolded, bundled into the back of her own car, and driven to Gaza.
“We didn’t have any sign of life from her for a whole year and this is the first time we are seeing her, and we are seeing her walking on her two feet and we are just waiting here to hug her and say how much we love her,” Damari’s friend Guy Kleinberger said.
What about the remaining hostages?
For many in Israel, the war will not be over while Hamas still stands and there have been a series of rallies opposing the ceasefire as a sell-out that abandons men of military age taken captive, who are not in the first batch of 33 hostages.
The October 7 attack was a significant escalation in the long-standing conflict between Israel and Hamas.
