Cheers and weeping as Israelis watch Gaza hostages return

20/1/2025 11:25

Hundreds of Israelis gathered in Hostages Square in Tel Aviv, some cheering and some in tears, as a giant television screen broadcast the first glimpse of the first three hostages to be released under the Gaza ceasefire deal.



They watched as the three women - Romi Gonen, Doron Steinbrecher and Emily Damari - got out of a car in Gaza City and were handed over to Red Cross officials amid a surging crowd that was held back by Hamas gunmen.



The Israeli military shared video showing their families gathered in what appeared to be a military facility crying out in emotion as they watched footage of the handover to Israeli forces in Gaza before they were brought back into Israel.



"Their return today represents a beacon of light in the darkness, a moment of hope and triumph of the human spirit," the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, a group that represents some hostage families said.



The release of the three women, the first of 33 hostages due to be freed from Gaza under phase one of the deal, is in exchange for 90 Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails.