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471 days. That’s how long Hamas has held Israeli men, women, and children in captivity. Today, after Hamas mostly quit playing games; the first three of the initial 33 hostages, Doron Steinbrecher, Romi Gonin, and Emily Damari, are released.
Hamas confirmed on Sunday that 28-year-old Emily Damari, 23-year-old Romi Gonen, and 31-year-old Doron Steinbrecher have been released on the first day of phase one of the hostage-ceasefire deal.
The deal will see 33 hostages released in the first phase in exchange for the release of security prisoners, humanitarian aid, and an IDF withdrawal from some areas in Gaza.
Israel will release 30 Palestinian detainees for every civilian hostage and 50 Palestinian detainees for every Israeli female soldier Hamas releases. Hostages expected to be released in the first phase are those who fall under the humanitarian category, such as women, children, elderly, or wounded.
If this reads like a lop-sided deal it’s because, IMO, it is. That said, I’m also positive that trying to get ALL the hostages released immediately would’ve meant all negotiations would’ve come to a screeching halt. However, as we’ve seen over the last few days, Hamas isn’t done playing games. One of the delays was due to their claims of “technical issues” with correct spellings of names and other infuriating excuses.
https://twitter.com/thehoffather/status/1880903796295147604
The International Red Cross is involved in the hand-off. As we noted here, their credibility regarding the Israeli hostages is in the toilet, especially when they had the utter gall to lecture the families of hostages for being concerned about getting needed medications to them. I’d guess the only reason they are involved is because that’s what Hamas pushed for.
https://twitter.com/AnjaAsbroeck/status/1880966315185414642
The Bibas family is on the list of the 33 hostages to be released. This young boy has spent TWO birthdays in captivity. Kfir has known nothing else since October 7, 2023.
"Dear Israel. If Kfir and Ariel Bibas are not alive, blow up everything. Zero mercy." – The World. pic.twitter.com/mj3ScU2I1U
— Afshine Emrani MD FACC (@afshineemrani) January 16, 2025
Among the 33 to be released this week (I HOPE) are American hostages.
Two of the three remaining American hostages are among the 33 captives expected to be released by Hamas as part of the cease-fire agreement the terror group made with Israel that went into effect Sunday, after 15 months in captivity.
Israel confirmed Sunday Sagui Dekel-Chen and Keith Siegel are on Hamas’ list of hostages to be freed in the first phase of the deal — which took effect at 11:15 a.m. local time on Sunday following an hours-long delay.
In addition to the Americans, the Bibas family — including 2-year-old Kfir and 5-year-old Ariel — are on the list of Gaza-held captives that will be freed.
We’ve ALL been waiting and praying for everyone to come home.
https://twitter.com/Israel/status/1880893973218345077
Sadly, and yes infuriatingly, at least four American hostages will only come home in a coffin. Instead of lecturing Israel and Prime Minister Netanyahu about making nice with terrorists, the Biden Administration should’ve been working 24/7 to get everyone free. Instead they kept pushing for the two-state solution crap.
According to reports, of all the remaining hostages, only 60 are alive.
And Hamas refuses to say who is and who isn’t among the living.
To the last moment, Hamas is terrorizing the hostages. Heavily armed men and crowds of screaming Gazans surround the vehicles with the hostages. pic.twitter.com/a8rFvwry7h
— Aviva Klompas (@AvivaKlompas) January 19, 2025
While they and their terrorist ilk still freely roam around Gaza.
— @amuse (@amuse) January 19, 2025
Thankfully the hand over went smoothly.
Israelis cheer and celebrate at the news that Romi, Emily, and Doron are coming home. pic.twitter.com/T0wWFvpZ9x
— Aviva Klompas (@AvivaKlompas) January 19, 2025
Three young women are finally coming home.
“After 471 agonizing days in captivity, Emily, Doron, and Romi are finally returning home,” the Hostages Families Forum, a group representing some families of the captives, said in a statement, referring to the three women released into Israeli custody in the first part of the cease-fire deal. “Their return reminds us of our profound responsibility to continue working towards the release of everyone – until the last hostage returns home,” the statement added.
https://twitter.com/AvivaKlompas/status/1881003951337988115
Let us hope and pray that the rest of the hostages will soon follow.
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Feature Photo Credit: Yellow ribbon with Star of David via iStock, cropped and modified
Cameron says: The exchange should have been one for one. And any dead hostage should have been answered with 50 executed palestinians. But we don’t live in a rational world.
Edward Lunny says: Yes, another lop sided deal, again. These have to stop. Screw the international community, the red cross, screw them all. Hamas, the palis need to be obliterated, the iranians as well. Dealing with the palis just starts the clock until the next muslim atrocity.
Viva palestina says: LONG LIVE PALESTINE AND ALL RESISTANCE FIGHTERS
Cameron says: You mean resistance fighters like the Israelis? Absolutely.
Viva palestina says: LONG LIVE PALESTINE AND ITS RESISTANCE FIGHTERS
NTSOG says: It’s such a pity that Hamas caused the deaths of so many of their own people. Their ‘resistance’ was a cynical exercise in manipulation, but who cares how many Palestinians died for Hamas’ ‘noble’ cause. They were only non-combatants: women, children and the elderly, but they served a purpose by being used as human shields by ‘brave’ Hamas fighters hiding underground and taking most of the food and aid. They have earned their reputation … as cowards.
Cameron says: It’s funny how the Palestinians are treated like garbage in Muslim nations. Might have something to do with the fact that they’re ignorant inbred savages who are only alive because Israel hasn’t obliterated them.
rbj1 says: Get all the hostages home. Then the next time the Gaza Arabs launch a rocket into Israel, level the whole place. Meantime, no Gaza Arab is allowed back into Israel.
Israel controls the ports to ensure no weapons get smuggled in that way.
Edmund Burke says: Himmler in the final days of WW11 used Jewish prisoners as hostages in order to try and wring concessions from the Allies. Hamas are following in the footsteps of this man.
[…] THOSE POOR WOMEN: Hostages Emily, Doron, and Romi Released After 471 Days In Captivity. […]
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