A day before President Trump will return to the presidency, word has come that three Israeli hostages have been released and handed over to the Red Cross.
According to reports, Romi Gonen, Emily Damari, and Doron Steinbrecher were named as the first 3 people who would be released on Sunday.
The three young women were reportedly taken from the Nova Music Festival.
The Times of Israel reports, “The IDF says that the Red Cross has notified the military that hostages Romi Gonen, Emily Damari, and Doron Steinbrecher were handed over to them.”
“The Red Cross is now bringing the hostages to IDF troops inside the Gaza Strip, the military adds.”
Romi Gonen, Emily Damari, and Doron Steinbrecher, three Israeli hostages, are transferred to the Red Cross from the Hamas barbarians. They are walking on their own legs. They are on their way to their mothers.
ברוך אתה השם אלוקינו מלך העולם שהחינו וקימנו והגינו לזמן הזה. pic.twitter.com/gz6mOP004V
— Batya Ungar-Sargon (@bungarsargon) January 19, 2025
Israel has set up calm greeting stations for the hostage girls. The little baskets have hair brushes and other female-covered luxuries that they likely haven’t seen in well over a year. pic.twitter.com/nFz356GonM
— Marina Medvin (@MarinaMedvin) January 19, 2025
Hamas operatives were seen circling and escorting a Red Cross convoy deep inside Gaza set to receive the three hostages expected to be released Sunday morning.
Like with the hostage exchanges in November 2023, Hamas fighters and Palestinians could be seen in online footage cheering and parading around the vehicles set to carry the hostages out of the Gaza Strip.
On Wednesday, President Trump announced that a deal was reached for the release of Jewish hostages in the Middle East.
Trump posted the news on his Truth Social account.
“WE HAVE A DEAL FOR THE HOSTAGES IN THE MIDDLE EAST. THEY WILL BE RELEASED SHORTLY. THANK YOU!” Trump wrote.
In a no-holds-barred press conference at Mar-a-Lago following the certification of his 2024 election victory, President-elect Donald Trump issued a stern warning to Hamas, demanding the immediate release of hostages held in the Gaza Strip.
With his signature resolve, Trump made it clear that failure to comply by January 20, his Inauguration Day, would result in severe consequences for the region.
“All hell will break out. If they’re not back by the time I get into office, all hell will break out in the Middle East. It will not be good for Hamas, and it will not be good, frankly, for anyone. All hell will break out,” Trump warned.
Trump added, “I don’t have to say anymore, but that’s what it is. They should have given them back a long time ago. They should have never taken them. They should have never committed the attack of October 7. People forget that, but there was, and many people were killed.”
This story is developing.
