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By Peter Aitken
Politics Weekend Editor
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Sunday marked the first phase of hostage and prisoner exchange between Israel and Hamas as they proceed with a ceasefire deal after 15 months of conflict.
The Context
Romi Gonen, 24; Emily Damari, 28; and Doron Steinbrecher, 31, were the first hostages to be released, transported by van from Gaza to the Red Cross to facilitate the exchange.
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All three women were taken hostage on October 7, 2023, during Hamas' attack on Israel. Gonen was at the Nova music festival and was shot in the hand during her abduction, according to local media.
Before the deal, at least 117 hostages had been released, mostly in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. The Israeli government believed that at least 98 hostages remained in Hamas captivity, although the figure may include the remains of dozens who died or were killed during the conflict.
Three American hostages—Sagui Dekel-Chen, Edan Alexander and Keith Siegel—are believed to be alive in Gaza, alongside the remains of an additional four U.S. hostages.
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What To Know
While Israel wanted a list of hostages released in each exchange, Hamas did provide a full list of the 33 hostages to be released in the first phase.
The hostages to be released are:
- Liri Albag
- Itzhak Elgarat
- Karina Ariev
- Ohad Ben Ami
- Ariel Bibas
- Yarden Bibas
- Kfir Bibas
- Shiri Bibas
- Agam Berger
- Gonen Romi
- Daniella Gilboa
- Emily Damari
- Sagui Dekel-Chen
- Iair Horn
- Omer Wenkert
- Alexandre Sasha Troufanov
- Arbel Yehoud
- Ohad Yahalomi
- Eliya Cohen
- Or Levy
- Naama Levy
- Oded Lifshitz
- Gadi Moshe Mozes,
- Avraham (Avera) Mengisto,
- Shlomo Mantzur
- Keith Samuel Sigal
- Tsachi Idan
- Ofer Kalderon
- Tal Shoham
- Doron Steinbrecher
- Omer Shem Tov
- Hisham Al-Sayed
- Eli Sharabi
What People Are Saying
President Joe Biden addressed reporters after the first three hostages were released on Sunday, saying: "Many of those who have followed these negotiations will attest that the road to this deal has not been easy at all, and a long road, but we've reached the point today because of the pressure Israel built on Hamas, backed by the United States. Some said my policy of a firm support for Israel was relentlessly pursuing diplomacy, and I risked drawing America into a wider war in the region."
He added: "I listened to those voices, many of whom I respected a great deal, but I concluded abandoning the course I was on would not have led us to the ceasefire we are seeing today, but instead it would have risked the wider war in the region so many feared."
Danny Danon, Israel's ambassador to the United Nations, wrote on X: "Romi, Doron and Emily are finally home with their families. We will do whatever it takes to bring all of our hostages home. Romi, Doron, and Emily, we thought of you every single day over the past 471 days. We prayed for your safety, and worked tirelessly for your release. Now, you are finally home. Sending you and your families a big hug and wishing you health and healing."
Update, 1/19/25 at 3:46 p.m. ET: This file has been updated with embedded video and photos.
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