First three Israeli hostages, including British woman, released by Hamas under Gaza ceasefire deal - follow live

19 January 2025, 09:25 | Updated: 19 January 2025, 18:31

Emily Damari is among hostages to be returned now the ceasefire has begun
Emily Damari is among hostages to be returned now the ceasefire has begun. Picture: Alamy

By Kit Heren

Three hostages, including a British woman, have been released by Hamas with the ceasefire in Gaza underway.

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The ceasefire in Gaza was delayed earlier, after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said early on Sunday that it will not begin until Israel has received a list of the hostages set to be released from Hamas.

Now British-Israeli woman Emily Damari, Doron Steinbrecher and Romi Gonen have been handed over to the Red Cross by Hamas and are on their way to the Israeli military.

‘Ceasefire? Not in the West Bank,’ Israeli NGO says

Yesh Din, an Israeli organisation that monitors settler violence in the West Bank, said there have been dozens of attacks today as settlers set Palestinian homes on fire.

“Ceasefire? Not in the West Bank tonight,” the group said on X, referencing the ceasefire that was implemented in Gaza today.

The group shared videos of a truck and what appears to be a house on fire, saying Israeli settlers set fire to multiple homes across three villages, and threw rocks at vehicles along a motorway.

Earlier, a minor was shot by settlers and died of his injuries in the town of Sebastia, north of Nablus, according to the Palestinian news agency Wafa.

Israeli settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem are illegal under Israeli and international law, and attacks on Palestinians have dramatically increased after October 7, with 2024 marking the highest number of settler-related incidents according to the UN.

Hostages in 'stable condition', says Sheba Medical Center doctor

Doctors told a news conference at Sheba Medical Center that the three Israeli women released by Hamas today are 'in stable condition'.

A member of the hospital staff told journalists: "I'm happy to report that they are in stable condition.

"That allows us and them to focus on what is the most important thing for now - reuniting with the families. 

"We will continue to monitor all their clinical conditions. This will take a few more days until we complete all the examinations that are needed, and treat, whatever we find."

Photos: the three Israeli hostages are reunited with their mothers

Photos have been released of the three hostages released by Hamas to Israel hugging their mothers as they are reunited.

Family of freed Israeli hostage thanks ‘people of Israel’ and Donald Trump

The family of Doron Steinbrecher, one of the three hostages released by Hamas today, has thanked the people of Israel and incoming US president Donald Trump.

“After an unbearable 471 days, our beloved Dodo has finally returned to our arms. We want to express our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who supported and accompanied us along this journey,” the family said in a statement via the Hostages and Missing Families’ Forum.

The statement added that Steinbrecher, 31, will now begin her “rehabilitation journey.”

Biden says prisoner swaps to be held weekly, as next exchange set for Saturday

US president Joe Biden has confirmed that hostage swaps will continue weekly, and that Hamas will release a further four women in ‘seven days’.

Hamas had made an earlier statement saying the next release of hostages will take place on Saturday, January 25.

Afterwards, three Israeli hostages will be released every seven days for the duration of the first phase of the ceasefire deal, which will last for 42 days, the outgoing president added.

He said two American citizens will be released during the first phase.

Emily Damari's lawyer tells LBC he was 'scared the hostages might be lynched' as they were handed over

 Adam Wagner, lawyer for the Damari family, told Vanessa Feltz on LBC: "It's been an incredibly tense (day) and (with) very variable series of emotions through the day.

"We watched the footage live... It was quite something."

He described the footage of Emily being handed over by Hamas militants to the Red Cross, and said: "There were tens of armed Hamas operatives in black balaclavas and green headbands and surrounded by a crowd of hundreds, maybe thousands of people who were trying to get to the van that had the hostages in was completely surrounded, as was the Red Cross vans.

"People shouting and chanting...It wasn't obvious that they weren't going to be lynched, to be honest."

The hostages are now reportedly being transported in military helicopters, along with their mothers, to the hospital where they will receive treatment and meet the rest of their families.

Mr Wagner added: "I'm just relieved, to put it mildly, that they seem to be back in Israel now. And as I understand it, Emily is now with her mum, Mandy, which is really just a wonderful thing."

Watch: the moment Israeli hostages are returned by the Red Cross to Shin Bet

The IDF has released a video of the moment the Red Cross handed over the three hostages released today to Shin Bet, Israel’s security service.

The hostages are now reportedly being transported in military helicopters, along with their mothers, to the hospital where they will receive treatment and meet the rest of their families.

Photo: British-Israeli hostage Emily Damari reunited with mother

Emily Damari, 28, who grew up in south-east London before moving to Israel, is one of the first three hostages that have been released by Hamas, and has now been reunited with her mother Mandy.

A photo, obtained by Sky News, shows Emily with her mother on a video call with her brother.

Emily has been held by Hamas for more than 15 months, and has now been released as part of the first phase of the ceasefire deal agreed between Hamas and Israel.

A second photo shows Emily waving a bandaged hand - she was reportedly shot in her hand by Hamas when she was taken captive.

‘Ceasefire must lead to credible pathway towards two-state solution’, Lammy says

Foreign Secretary David Lammy has welcomed the release of three hostages in Gaza and said "our thoughts are also with those still waiting to be reunited with their loved ones".

In a statement released on Sunday evening, Lammy said: "We welcome the release of three hostages in Gaza, including British national Emily Damari

The foreign secretary thanks mediators Qatar, Egypt and the US "for their support in bringing these individuals' and their families' horrific ordeal to an end."

"Our thoughts are also with those still waiting to be reunited with their loved ones, including the families of UK linked hostages Eli Sharabi, Oded Lifshitz and Avinatan Or," he added.

"We are clear the deal must be implemented in full; all hostages be returned and aid be allowed to flow into Gaza now.

"This ceasefire must lead to a credible pathway towards a two-state solution in which Israelis and Palestinians can live side by side in peace."

Red Cross verifying identities of Palestinian prisoners at Ofer prison ahead of release

The Red Cross is reportedly inside Ofer prison right now to verify the identity of Palestinian prisoners set to be released today as part of the ceasefire deal.

90 male and female Palestinian prisoners are due to be freed as part of the deal, as Hamas has already released three female Israeli hostages.

It is unclear when exactly the Palestinian prisoners will be released.

Emily Damari is among three hostages to be released
Emily Damari is among three hostages to be released. Picture: Social media
One of the hostages, Romi Gonen, is due to be released by Hamas at 2pm today.
One of the hostages, Romi Gonen, is due to be released by Hamas at 2pm today. Picture: Social media
Doron Steinbrecher, one of the hostages due to be released today.
Doron Steinbrecher, one of the hostages due to be released today. Picture: Social media

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