Gaza ceasefire: Brit Emily Damari among three Israeli hostages released by Hamas
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Hamas has released three hostages, including a British-Israeli woman who has been held captive for 470 days. A ceasefire deal, which promised the phased release of hostages as well as a pause in the 15-month Israel-Hamas war, was delayed on Sunday morning before coming into force at 9.15am UK time. And now, Hamas released three hostages at 3.20pm UK time, including British-Israeli Emily Damari, 28, along with Romi Gonen and Doron Steinbrecher.
The Red Cross says that the three Israeli hostages were transferred to them and are on their way toward IDF and ISA forces in the Gaza Strip. "The Red Cross has communicated that the three Israeli hostages were transferred to them and are on their way toward IDF and Israel Securities Authority forces in the Gaza Strip," the Israeli military said in a statement.
The Israeli military had said it continued to attack inside the Gaza Strip following a dispute with Hamas over the names put back the start of the planned ceasefire. And it has emerged that an Israeli airstrike killed at least eight people in the Gaza Strip today.
Ms Damari was shot in the hand and leg when she was taken by Hamas militants in southern Israel during the October 7 attack. Emily’s mother Mandy Damari, who was born in Surrey, has been campaigning for her release along with twin brothers Ziv and Gali Berman, 27.
Earlier today a UK Foreign Office spokesperson said: "The UK Government welcomes the reports that British national Emily Damari is on the list of hostages to be released by Hamas today. We stand ready to support her upon her release. We urge both sides to implement all phases of the deal in full and for all hostages to be returned.".
