Brit hostage Emily Damari & two other victims finally released by Hamas after being kidnapped 470 days ago on October 7
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THE first three hostages, including British citizen Emily Damari, have finally been released by Hamas after a near-collapse of the ceasefire deal this morning. The fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas has finally come into effect after 15 months of relentless warfare, with the first step being the hostage-prisoner exchange.
![[Photo of Emily Damari, a British hostage in Gaza.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/5376927d-85ea-4616-9caf-4b004fa5594e.jpg?strip=all&w=757)
The truce was set back by a few hours on Sunday after intense last-minute negotiations and a near-collapse of the deal just hours before its implementation. British Emily Damari, 28, has been released alongside two other women Romi Gonen, 24, and Doron Steinbrecher, 31.
![[Photo of Romi Gonen.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/cf41c229-d9e9-458d-be81-67fb65591102.jpg?strip=all&w=773)
The three victims were picked up by the International Committee of the Red Cross team from Gaza. IAF helicopters were equipped with various comfort equipment including blankets for the three women returning to Israeli soil. One leopard skin blanket was put in a chopper especially for 24-year-old Romi, who apparently loves the pattern.
![[Veterinary nurse.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/ba5003bf-9e5b-4f21-9364-e342a6e2145d.jpg?strip=all&w=833)
The three women are to be met by medical teams and psychological support staff at three designated points along Gaza's border in Erez, Re'im and Kerem Shalom. They will soon be reunited with their families who haven't seen or heard from the women since they were brutally taken by Hamas 470 days ago.
![[Lounge area with beanbag chairs and a sofa in a tent.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/image_107d25.png?strip=all&w=960)
Emily Damari grew up in southeast London before moving to Israel in her 20s. The Spurs fan was shot in the hand and suffered shrapnel wounds to the leg when she was snatched from the Kfar Aza kibbutz village on October 7. Her London-born mum has desperately campaigned for her daughter's release who was kidnapped from her home by Hamas alongside her twin brothers Ziv and Gali Berman, 27.
![[Lounge area with beanbag chairs and a sofa in a tent.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/image_6aee13.png?strip=all&w=960)
