A ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas in Gaza has come into effect, halting a 15-month-long conflict that caused immense destruction and political shifts across the Middle East.
As part of the agreement, three Israeli hostages have been released, identified by Hamas as Romi Gonen, Doron Steinbrecher, and Emily Damari.
Emily Damari, 28:
Emily, who holds dual British and Israeli citizenship, was abducted from her apartment in Kfar Aza kibbutz on October 7, 2023, along with 37 other residents from the Gaza border community. She was the only British citizen among the hostages. Her final message to her family that morning was a text sent at around 10 a.m., alerting them that Hamas fighters were nearby and firing near her home.
Reports indicate Emily was injured during the attack, suffering gunshot wounds to her hand and shrapnel injuries to her leg. Witnesses say she was blindfolded and taken to Gaza in her car. Her mother, Mandy Damari, expressed grave concerns over her condition, saying, “She’s suffering from gunshot wounds to her hand and leg … I worry every moment she could be killed just for being there.”
Emily, a Tottenham Hotspur fan, grew up in south-east London before moving to Israel. She is the granddaughter of Sidney Moss, a former managing director of the UK’s Jewish Chronicle.
Romi Gonen, 24:
Romi, a former scout counselor, was kidnapped while attending the Nova music festival near the Gaza border on October 7. She was shot in the hand during the attack, and three of her friends were killed. She managed to contact her mother, Meirav Leshem Gonen, saying, “They shot me, Mom, and I’m bleeding. Everyone in the car is bleeding.”
Although the car Romi was traveling in was later found abandoned, her phone signal was traced to Gaza. A hostage released in November 2023 confirmed that Romi was alive but reported that her hand was severely injured and non-functional. Her family revealed, “Her fingers were barely moving and changing colors – and that was over two months ago.”
Doron Steinbrecher, 31:
Doron, a veterinary nurse, was taken from her home in Kfar Aza during the October 7 attack. Hamas fighters seized her from her safe room as she spoke to her family on the phone, saying, “They’re here,” before being taken to Gaza in her pyjamas.
In January 2024, Doron appeared in a Hamas video alongside other hostages, pleading for their release. Her sister, Yamit Ashkenazi, and her parents were also present in the kibbutz during the attack. Doron’s last voice message to friends, sent shortly after 10:30 a.m., stated, “They’ve arrived – they have me.”
