Hamas frees the first three Israeli hostages within the framework of the ceasefire with Israel

Chijioke Obinna

Hamas frees the first three Israeli hostages within the framework of the ceasefire with Israel

The three Israeli hostages released by Hamas on the first day of the ceasefire They have already been handed over to the Israeli Army within the Gaza Strip by Red Cross teams and are already in Israeli territory. “Recently, accompanied by the Israel Defense Forces and the Shin Bet (internal security agency), the freed hostages crossed the border into Israeli territory,” a military spokesman confirmed.

The release of the three women identified as Romi Gonen, 24 years old; Emily Damari, 28, and Doron Steinbrecher, 31in exchange for 90 Palestinian prisoners, began around 3:00 p.m. this afternoon and represents the beginning of six weeks of gradual exchanges between 33 hostages and more than 1,900 prisoners.

Damari and Steinbrecher were kidnapped from their homes in the Kfar Aza kibbutz during the October 7 massacrewhile Gonen was kidnapped at the Nova music festivalanother of the epicenters of the attack by Palestinian militias against Israel, which triggered the Gaza war.

According to Palestinian media, the delivery to the Red Cross by the al Qasam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, occurred in a central square in Gaza City. They are the first hostages released as part of the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, which came into force this morning, after a delay of almost three hours.

When Israeli forces receive the abductees and confirm their identity, 90 Palestinian prisoners (women and children) will be released, most in the occupied West Bank, but 14 of them in East Jerusalem.

The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu celebrated the handover of the three hostages to Israeli forces and assured that The Government is committed to the return of all those kidnapped.

He Forum of Families of Hostages and Missing Personswhich represents the majority of relatives of Israelis held in Gaza, also celebrated the news and said that the return of Emily Damari, Doron Steinbrecher and Romi Gonen is “a moment of hope and triumph of the human spirit.”

First phase of the agreement

In the first phase of the pact, Israel and Hamas They have agreed to a six-week ceasefirein which there will be a gradual exchange of 33 Israeli hostages for more than 1,900 Palestinian prisoners.

During these six weeks, the negotiations for a second phase of the trucein which the release of all Israeli hostages in Gaza would be completed and the foundations for the end of the war would be laid.

However, senior Israeli officials such as Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, They have remembered that the ceasefire is temporaryand The war will not end until Israel meets all its objectives military, which involves completely eliminating Hamas.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog visited the Western Wall in Jerusalem this Sunday, the holiest place in Judaism, to pray for the release of the three hostages and the rest of the Israeli hostages in Gaza.

More than 300 aid trucks enter Gaza

At least 330 trucks of humanitarian aid entered the Gaza Strip this Sunday from Egypt within the framework of the first day of ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, according to Egyptian media.

“330 aid trucks entered the Kerem Shalom and Al Auya crossings, including 20 fuel trucks,” said the Al Qahera News channel, close to Egyptian Intelligence.

Most of the aid trucks are loaded with non-perishable foods such as rice, legumes, pasta and oilin addition to drums with water, belongings such as blankets and duvets, sanitary material and fuel.

These are the first aid trucks passing Rafah after the ceasefire agreement became effective, which stipulates that some 600 trucks with aid will enter Gaza daily, 50 of them with fuel. Half of these trucks will arrive, as stipulated, in northern Gaza, the area most affected by the Israeli war in the Palestinian enclave.

He Rafah crossing was the main route for supplies from Gaza and the only one that was not under Israeli control. The little aid that was able to enter the territory during the first months of the conflict passed through there until in May of last year when Israeli troops occupied the area and blocked its use.

Chijioke Obinna

I've been passionate about storytelling and journalism since my early days growing up in Lagos. With a background in political science and years of experience in investigative reporting, I aim to bring nuanced perspectives to pressing global issues. Outside of writing, I enjoy exploring Nigeria’s vibrant cultural scene and mentoring young aspiring journalists.