Three hostages, including British-Israeli girl Emily Damari have been released by Hamas.
The Red Cross says that Damari, alongside 31-year-old Doron Steinbrecher and 24-year-old Romi Gonenwere have been transferred to them and are on their way toward Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip.
An IDF source told reporters the three hostages are in good health and have crossed over into Israeli territory.
A senior Hamas official told reporters: “The three women hostages were officially handed over to the Red Cross at Al-Saraya Square in the Al-Rimal neighbourhood in western Gaza City. This occurred after a member of the Red Cross team met with them and ensured their well-being.”
People gather in what’s known as Hostages Square
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Ezz Al-Din Al Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas gather in al-Saraya before the prisoner swap processGetty
Ofer military prison, located between Ramallah and Beitunia in the occupied West BankGetty
Romi Gonen, Emily Damari and Doron Steinbrecher are set to be released
In a statement on X, an IDF spokesman said: “The three returnees are now being escorted by an elite IDF unit and Shin Bet security force on their way back to Israel, where they will undergo an initial medical evaluation. IDF commanders and soldiers salute and embrace the returnees on their way to Israel.”
Hamas said it was expecting a list from Israel of the 90 Palestinian prisoners, including women and children, to be released on Sunday in exchange. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the ceasefire would not commence until Israel received the names.
After receiving the list, his office confirmed in a statement the ceasefire had started, and that Israeli security personnel contacting the families of the hostages who would be released after 4pm.
The Israeli military said it struck “terror targets” in northern and central Gaza on Sunday morning as the dispute with Hamas over the delivery of the list continued. At least 13 Palestinians were killed and dozens injured in the military strikes, the Palestinian Civil Emergency Service said.
LATEST ON THE ISRAEL-HAMAS CONFLICT
Displaced Palestinians, taking refuge in Bureij Refugee Camp, start to return their houses
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Al-Qassam Brigades hands over three Israeli hostages to Red Cross at al-Saraya
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An aerial view shows the ruble of destroyed residential buildings, the streets and avenues after the Israeli bombardment left a huge destruction at Tel Al-Sultan area
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There was some scenes of chaos during the handover between Hamas and the Red Cross as Hamas gunman stood guard on top of the Red Cross vehicles that are holding the three women.
Damari, 28, who holds dual British-Israeli nationality, was taken hostage from Kibbutz Kfar Aza after the October 7 attack where Hamas militants killed around 1,200 people and abducted approximately 250.
Israel responded with an offensive in Gaza that has killed more than 46,000 Palestinians and left hundreds of thousands displaced, according to the health authority in the enclave.
The war has come with diplomatic ramifications as Israel faces outrage and isolation over the death and devastation. Netanyahu faces an International Criminal Court arrest warrant on war crimes allegations and separate accusations of genocide at the International Court of Justice, something which Jerusalem strongly denies.
Supporters and relatives of hostages held captive in the Gaza Strip celebrate in tel Aviv
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Israel’s military spokesman Daniel Hagari, confirmed that the hostages are now back inside Israeli territory and that the three women are being brought to a facility near the border for an initial check-up before being taken to hospital.
Hagari says during a press conference that the now-former hostages – Romi Gonen, Emily Damari, and Doron Steinbrecher – “are now in safe hands…They are in our hands. They are coming home.”