Synopsis
Three Israeli women, released from Hamas captivity, have returned to Israel as the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas comes into force. This marks the beginning of a gradual hostage release process amidst ongoing tensions.Key Takeaways
- Three Israeli women returned home after 471 days in captivity.
- The ceasefire agreement initiates a six-week calm.
- Hamas will gradually release hostages in exchange for Palestinian detainees.
- Israeli military prepared for possible violations of the ceasefire.
- Hamas emphasizes commitment to the ceasefire contingent on Israeli compliance.
Jerusalem/Gaza, Jan 20 (NationPress) Three Israeli women, freed from Hamas captivity in Gaza, have returned to Israel on the inaugural day of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, as confirmed by Israeli authorities.
The trio includes Emily Damari, 28, a British-Israeli; Doron Steinbrecher, 30, a veterinary nurse; and Romi Gonen, 23, all of whom were kidnapped during the Nova music festival. They were released after spending 471 days in captivity, according to a report by Xinhua news agency.
These three women are the initial group of 33 Israeli hostages anticipated to be released.
The ceasefire agreement, structured in three phases, commenced with a six-week period of tranquility, concluding over 15 months of relentless Israeli strikes that devastated Gaza and resulted in the deaths of more than 46,900 Palestinians, as per updates from Gaza's health authorities.
Hamas is set to release around three to four hostages weekly. In exchange, Israel will free hundreds of Palestinian detainees currently held in Israeli prisons. The first batch of 90 detainees, primarily women and children from the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, were released later on the same day.
The three female hostages were transferred to Israeli forces via the Red Cross in Gaza, the Israeli military reported, noting that "a short while ago, accompanied by Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Shin Bet forces, the released hostages crossed the border into Israeli territory."
Upon arrival, the trio was taken to a reception point in southern Israel near the Gaza border, where they received initial medical evaluations and reunited with their mothers, according to military sources.
In a televised statement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu remarked that the three "experienced hell."
He described the moment as "a great and exciting moment."
During a press briefing, IDF Spokesman Daniel Hagari stated, "Today, we salute and embrace them (the three hostages) and their families as they reunite after such a long time."
He also mentioned that Israeli forces have repositioned to the outskirts of Gaza and are "prepared for defense and offense" should Hamas breach the agreement.
Abu Ubaida, spokesperson for the Al-Qassam Brigades, the military faction of Hamas, declared on Sunday that Al-Qassam and other Palestinian groups are devoted to upholding the ceasefire agreement.
"We, along with other resistance factions, affirm our full commitment to the ceasefire, contingent upon the enemy's compliance," Ubaida stressed in a television address.
He characterized the October 7 "Operation Al-Aqsa Flood" against Israel as a "turning point" in the ongoing conflicts, asserting that the resistance inflicted considerable losses on the Israeli military, including the destruction of approximately 2,000 military vehicles and significant soldier casualties.
"We have dismantled the Israeli deterrence theory and compelled the occupation to engage on multiple fronts," he asserted.
Describing Gaza's residents as "the pride of the nation and the emblem of its dignity," Ubaida called for continued support for the resistance and the resilience of the Palestinian populace.
The ceasefire agreement was established to halt the hostilities between Israel and Hamas, ignited by Hamas' cross-border attack on October 7, 2023, which resulted in the deaths of 1,200 individuals in Israel and the abduction of around 250 others.
