Arab Press

بالشعب و للشعب
Friday, Jun 13, 2025

Mixed Reactions as Three Hostages Freed in Gaza Ceasefire Agreement

Mixed Reactions as Three Hostages Freed in Gaza Ceasefire Agreement

The release of the hostages marks a significant moment in the ongoing conflict, with 97 others still detained under uncertain conditions.
TEL AVIV/SDEROT – Large crowds gathered in Hostages Square, Tel Aviv, to witness the emotionally charged release of three Israeli hostages from Gaza.

The hostages, Romi Gonen, Doron Steinbrecher, and Emily Damari, were the first to be released under a Gaza ceasefire agreement.

The three women were handed over to Red Cross officials in a heavily policed exchange in Gaza City.

This comes after being held captive by Hamas for 471 days.

The release, met with both cheers and tears, was broadcast live, stirring intense emotions among families and friends.

Shay Dickmann, a relative of one of the victims captured and slain by her captors, expressed relief upon witnessing the women's release.

Video footage showed families overwhelmed with emotion as they saw their loved ones, finally safe, brought back to their homeland.

Photographs revealed joyous reunions with the families, with images showing Emily Damari embracing her mother and speaking to relatives via a video call, a bandaged hand emblematic of her ordeal.

The return of these hostages is part of a broader agreement aiming to free 33 hostages in exchange for the release of 90 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.

The hostages were taken on October 7, 2023, during a widespread attack by Hamas militants, which led to the abduction of 251 civilians, igniting one of Israel's most traumatic episodes.

Despite hope that the ceasefire might signal an end to hostilities, anxiety persists regarding the fate of the remaining 97 hostages still detained in Gaza.

Many Israelis, while cautiously optimistic, are skeptical about Hamas's commitment to the ceasefire.

Concerns are heightened by sights of armed Hamas operatives returning to the public eye.

The broader conflict backdrop underscores the challenges facing the ceasefire.

Israel's military operations over the past 15 months have heavily impacted Gaza, leading to significant casualties and displacement among its residents, according to the Palestinian health ministry.

Political debates continue to surface within Israel regarding the ceasefire’s implications.

Prominent figures, including National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, have voiced opposition to the deal, which excludes military-age hostages from the initial release.

Meanwhile, the Israeli Voice Index has indicated a divided public opinion over the plan, albeit with a majority supporting a comprehensive agreement.

In Sderot, a city affected by the conflict's toll, citizens express a mix of hope and fatigue.

Business owners like Shlomi Elkayam echo a common sentiment, balancing the desire for peace with the toll sustained during the conflict.

As the nation watches the evolving situation, the yearning for resolution is palpable across narratives of relief and ongoing concern.
Newsletter

Related Articles

Arab Press
0:00
0:00
Close
Israel Launches 'Operation Rising Lion' Targeting Iranian Nuclear and Military Sites
Israeli Forces Intercept Gaza-Bound Aid Vessel Carrying Greta Thunberg
IMF Warns of Severe Global Trade War Impacts on Emerging Markets
Syria to Reconnect to Global Economy After 14 Years of Isolation
Saudi Arabia Faces Uncertainty Over Succession After Mohammed bin Salman
Israel Confirms Arming Gaza Clan to Counter Hamas Influence
Majority of French Voters View Macron's Presidency as a Failure
U.S. Reduces Military Presence in Syria
Trump Demands Iran End All Uranium Enrichment in Nuclear Talks
Iran Warns Europe Against Politicizing UN Nuclear Report
Businessman Mauled by Lion at Luxury Namibian Lodge
Paris Saint-Germain's Greatest Triumph Is Football’s Lowest Point
OPEC+ Agrees to Increase Oil Output for Third Consecutive Month
Turkey Detains Istanbul Officials Amid Anti-Corruption Crackdown
Meta and Anduril Collaborate on AI-Driven Military Augmented Reality Systems
EU Central Bank Pushes to Replace US Dollar with Euro as World’s Main Currency
European and Arab Ministers Convene in Madrid to Address Gaza Conflict
Head of Gaza Aid Group Resigns Amid Humanitarian Concerns
U.S. Health Secretary Ends Select COVID-19 Vaccine Recommendations
Trump Warns Putin Is 'Playing with Fire' Amid Escalating Ukraine Conflict
India and Pakistan Engage Trump-Linked Lobbyists to Influence U.S. Policy
U.S. Halts New Student Visa Interviews Amid Enhanced Security Measures
Trump Administration Cancels $100 Million in Federal Contracts with Harvard
SpaceX Starship Test Flight Ends in Failure, Mars Mission Timeline Uncertain
King Charles Affirms Canadian Sovereignty Amid U.S. Statehood Pressure
Iranian Revolutionary Guard Founder Warns Against Trusting Regime in Nuclear Talks
Netanyahu Accuses Starmer of Siding with Hamas
Calls Grow to Resume Syrian Asylum Claims in UK
UAE Offers Free ChatGPT Plus Subscriptions to Citizens
Denmark Increases Retirement Age to 70, Setting a European Precedent
Iranian Director Jafar Panahi Wins Palme d'Or at Cannes
Israeli Airstrike Kills Nine Children of Gaza Doctor
Lebanon Initiates Plan to Disarm Palestinian Factions
Iran and U.S. Make Limited Progress in Nuclear Talks
Trump Administration's Tariff Policies and Dollar Strategy Spark Global Economic Debate
OpenAI Acquires Jony Ive’s Startup for $6.5 Billion to Build a Revolutionary “Third Core Device”
Turkey Weighs Citizens in Public as Erdoğan Launches National Slimming Campaign
UK Suspends Trade Talks with Israel Amid Gaza Offensive
Iran and U.S. Set for Fifth Round of Nuclear Talks Amid Rising Tensions
Russia Expands Military Presence Near Finland Amid Rising Tensions
Indian Scholar Arrested in Crackdown Over Pakistan Conflict Commentary
Israel Eases Gaza Blockade Amid Internal Dispute Over Military Strategy
President Biden’s announcement of advanced prostate cancer sparked public sympathy—but behind closed doors, Democrats are in panic
Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki Erupts Again, Spewing Ash Cloud over Flores Island
Indian jet shootdown: the all-robot legion behind China’s PL-15E missiles
The Chinese Dragon: The True Winner in the India-Pakistan Clash
Australia's Venomous Creatures Contribute to Life-Saving Antivenom Programme
The Spanish Were Right: Long Working Hours Harm Brain Function
Did Former FBI Director Call for Violence Against Trump? Instagram Post Sparks Uproar
US and UAE Partner to Develop Massive AI Data Center Complex
×