Families of hostages wait for news after three freed on first day of ceasefire
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Families of remaining Israeli hostages are waiting for news on their loved ones after three women were reunited with relatives following their release by Hamas on the first day of a ceasefire deal. British Israeli Emily Damari, who was held in captivity for more than 15 months in what was described as “ongoing torture” for her family, was among those freed on Sunday – hugging loved ones in tearful reunions once she made it to Israel.
Her mother Mandy Damari, who grew up in Beckenham, south-east London, thanked all those who “never stopped fighting for Emily throughout this horrendous ordeal”, posting a photo on social media of her and her daughter video-calling loved ones, with the caption: “Emily is home.”.
Two other hostages, Romi Gonen, 24, and Doron Steinbrecher, 31, were also freed on Sunday and the trio are now in Israel. They were assessed at Sheba Medical Centre in Tel Aviv, with doctors reporting that the women are in stable condition and will be monitored for a few days.
Professor Itai Pessach told a press conference in the Israeli city: “That allows us and them to focus on what is the most important thing for now (which) is reuniting with the families.”. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer welcomed the “wonderful and long-overdue news” of their release and called for all hostages to be freed, saying “we must not forget” those who remain in captivity.
