TEL AVIV — These are the smiles that say, “I’m free.”
The first three hostages released on Sunday as part of the breakthrough cease-fire deal were welcomed by their mothers with hugs, grins and tears.
But the toll of 15 months in hell was never far from sight. Even as Emily Damari, 28, embraced her mom and waved to family members in a video call, she revealed a bandaged left hand and two missing fingers that were blown off when Hamas terrorists took her hostage on Oct. 7, 2023.
Damari, a British-Israeli citizen, along with Romi Gonen, 23, and Doron Steinbrecher, 31, were handed over by a platoon of masked terrorists armed with assault rifles on Sunday — after an hours-long delay by Hamas leaders. A braying mob of Palestinians surrounded the women in Gaza as a final act of intimidation.
“After 471 days — Emily is finally home,” mom Mandy Damari said in a statement.
Emily Damari, one of the three Israeli hostages freed on Sunday, was seen in social media pictures reunited with her mother while on a video call.
Damari, who was wounded in a shooting on Oct. 7, 2023, lost two fingers during the assault, according to her family.
Damari is seen smiling standing next to her mom while she holds up a cellphone for a video call. GPO Israel
Damari (far right) is seen being freed. AFP via Getty Images“We would like to thank from the bottom of our hearts everyone who fought tirelessly for Emily throughout this difficult time. To everyone who raised her voice and called her name, in Israel, England, the United States and the whole world — thank you. Thanks to you, Emily came home.
“Emily’s nightmare in Gaza is over, but there are still too many families still waiting in pain. We must work together for the release of all the abductees, down to the last one. Those still in captivity need immediate humanitarian assistance,” the family added.
Steinbrecher’s family echoed the joy at having her back in Israel as they extended their thanks to incoming US President Donald Trump for his “significant involvement and support” in winning a cease-fire.
“Our beloved Dodo has finally returned to our arms,” the family said in a statement. “We want to express our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who supported and accompanied us along this journey.”
Hamas — which made a show of force during the hostage transfer — had a last sick gesture for the captives. Two of the women were handed “gift bags,” which included a “certificate” and photos of their time in captivity.
The women were delivered safely to Israel on Sunday morning following a deviation from the cease-fire timeline in which Israel accused Hamas of stalling on producing a list of all 33 hostages set to be freed as part of the first phase of the deal.
Red Cross vehicles dropped the women off at an Israeli military checkpoint, where they were greeted and escorted out of the car by female Israeli soldiers.
Israel hostage deal: What is it?
Israel and Hamas have reached a deal for the release of 50 hostages held captive by the terrorist organization in exchange for a 4-day pause in hostilities and the release of Palestinian prisoners.
The cessation in fighting could be extended an extra day for every 10 hostages released by Hamas.
Three Americans could be released in the deal.
The Red Cross will visit hostages who have not yet been released.
Hamas said Israel would release 150 Palestinian prisoners as part of the deal.
Hamas took 240 people hostage and killed over 1,200 in its October 7 terrorist attacks.
The former hostages could be seen holding back tears of joy as they hugged the soldiers and went through a quick debriefing.
Gonen, who was shot in the arm and abducted by Hamas terrorists at the Nova music festival on Oct. 7, cried as she held a long hug with one of the soldiers following the briefing.
Former hostage Doron Steinbrecher meets her mother after 471 days in Hamas captivity. GPO Israel / IDF Spokespersons' UnitThe women and their families were then taken to the Sheba Medical Center, where they were set to undergo a medical evaluation and recover their strength before going home.
The release of the hostages was welcomed by hundreds in Tel Aviv’s Hostage Square who were watching the situation unfold on the news.
“Romi is coming back! Emily is coming back! Doron is coming back!” the crowd could be heard chanting once the women were secured by the IDF.
President Biden hailed the start of the cease-fire and hostage exchange on Sunday morning, with plans to ease the transition over the ongoing negotiations during his final full day in office.
“The deal that I first put forward last May for the Middle East has finally come to fruition. The cease-fire has gone into effect in Gaza, and today, we’re seeing hostages being released, three Israeli women held against (their) will in the dark tunnels for 470 days,” Biden told reporters.
Freed hostage Romi Gonen embraces her mother Sunday. GPO Israel / IDF Spokespersons' Unit“After so much pain, destruction, loss of life, today, the guns in Gaza have gone silent,” he added.
“Now it falls on the next administration to help implement this deal.”
Trump, who has taken credit for the hostage exchange deal, celebrated the news of the women’s scheduled release earlier on Sunday.
“Hostages starting to come out today! Three wonderful young women will be first,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer also hailed Damari’s safe return as “wonderful and long-overdue news.”
“While this ceasefire deal should be welcomed, we must not forget about those who remain in captivity under Hamas,” Starmer said in a statement.
Some 57 living hostages are believed to be still held in the Gaza Strip, including three Americans. Two of those Americans — Sagui Dekel-Chen and Keith Siegel — are set to be freed in the initial 42-day cease-fire.
New Jersey native Edan Alexander, the third remaining American hostage, would have to be part of negotiations over a potential second phase of the cease-fire, which would see the effective end of the war in Gaza.
