NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — A ceasefire between Israel and the Gaza-based terror group Hamas went into effect Sunday morning, and the first batch of hostages -- three women, ages 24, 28 and 31 -- were released to the International Red Cross, who ferried the trio in a caravan of vans to a "reception point" in southern Israel, the Israel Defense Forces said.
The released hostages are Romi Gonen, 24, Emily Damari, 28, and Doron Steinbrecher, 31. The Red Cross -- which has never actually gone to Gaza to see the hostages -- said they were in "good condition," according to multiple reports, although the women have yet to go undergo a proper examination by doctors in Israel. Gonen was abducted from the Nova Music Festival, while Damari and Steinbrecher were kidnapped from Kibbutz Kfar Aza. Damari is an Israeli-British dual citizen.
The Israel Defense Forces posted a photo of Damari once she was in Israel, writing, "Emily is finally back where she belongs—safe in her mother’s arms, still smiling and stronger than ever." A video was previously posted of her father discovering that she was back in Israel.
At 6:27 p.m. Israel time (11:27 a.m. in NYC), the Israel Defense Forces wrote on X that the trio were being met by their mothers and would be transported to a hospital.
"The 3 released hostages have arrived at the initial reception point in southern Israel, where they will be reunited with their mothers," read the post. "IDF officers from the Manpower Directorate and IDF medical officials are accompanying the released hostages during an initial medical assessment. IDF representatives are accompanying their families at the hospital and updating them with the latest available information.
The IDF also posted photos of the Israeli Air Force helicopter that was being used to ferry the freed hostages from the reception point to a hospital.
According to the deal, which is set at an initial six weeks, today's release of the three hostages was also paired with the release Sunday of 90 Palestinians in Israeli jails.
Furthermore, there will be a staggered release of 33 hostages over the next six weeks, as well as the release of almost 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees.
“The road to this deal has been not easy at all and a long road,” Biden told reporters in Charleston, South Carolina, Sunday, before going to church there. “But we’ve reached the point today, because of the pressure Israel built on Hamas backed by the United States.”
