In a significant development, three Israeli hostages are set to be released following a ceasefire agreement. Romi Gonen, Doron Steinbrecher, and Emily Damari, the three women slated for release, have endured harrowing experiences since their abductions on October 7, 2023. These releases come as part of ongoing negotiations amid a tense geopolitical landscape.
Romi Gonen, one of the hostages, was attending the Nova music festival near the Gaza border when her world was turned upside down. On that fateful day, she was shot in the hand by Hamas gunmen and subsequently abducted. Her ordeal was marked by a poignant message to her mother, "They shot me, Mom, and I’m bleeding." Gonen's family later learned from another hostage released in November 2023 that she was alive but her hand was in dire condition.
“Her hand does not function. Her fingers are barely moving and are changing colours – and that was 10 weeks ago,” – Family of Romi Gonen
Meanwhile, Doron Steinbrecher's capture occurred in her home at the Kfar Aza kibbutz. A veterinary nurse by profession, Steinbrecher was taken when gunmen breached her safe room. Her family had confirmation of her survival in January of last year when she appeared in a Hamas video alongside two other captives.
Emily Damari's story is equally distressing. The granddaughter of Sidney Moss, former managing director of the UK's Jewish Chronicle, Damari holds both British and Israeli citizenship and is the only hostage with British nationality among those held. She was abducted from her apartment in Kfar Aza along with 37 other residents. Damari's last communication with her family was a chilling phone call where she said, "they’re here," as she was seized blindfolded and still in her pyjamas.
Damari's experience highlights the indiscriminate nature of conflict. She suffered injuries during her abduction and was taken to Gaza in her own car. Her final text to her family on the day of her kidnapping was sent around 10 a.m., warning them that Hamas were in her neighborhood and shooting near her apartment. Having grown up in south-east London before moving to Israel, Damari's dual identity adds an international dimension to her plight.
The release of these hostages represents a critical moment in the ongoing ceasefire negotiations. It underscores the complex humanitarian issues entangled in the conflict, as well as the personal stories of those caught in its web. The release process underlines the potential for diplomacy to yield tangible outcomes even amidst profound tensions.