Three hostages released by Hamas have already returned to Israel. At the reception center on Kibbutz Reim, mothers waited for them and took their daughters in their arms after more than a year. Relatives of Romi Gonen, Emily Damari and Doron Steinbrecher did not hide their emotion. The Israel Defense Forces released a video showing Gonen's father's emotional reaction while waiting for her return.
On Sunday afternoon, the first transfer of hostages took place under the agreement concluded between the Palestinian Hamas and… Israel. Three young women were released: Romi Gonen, Emily Damari and Doron Steinbrecher.
READ MORE: Romi, Emily and Doron return home
The recording published by Reuters shows the moment they were handed over to Israeli forces.
Three hostages released by Hamas. The moment of handing them over to the Israeli military on the recording
Emily Damari “safe in her mother's arms”
Emily Cohen, a representative of the Damari family, told CNN before the exchange that “these last few hours have been the most painful time imaginable, after almost 500 days of endless anguish for Mandy (Emily's mother) and all the other families.” She admitted that the exchange “is amazing news for the whole family,” but the girl's mother “will only believe it when she actually sees Emily alive and hugs her like she dreamed of.”
And so it happened. After the 28-year-old returned to Izarel, she met her mother. In a photo shared by Reuters, both of them can be seen talking to their loved ones via video chat. On the other side is the girl's brother Tom and other family members.
Emily Damari has already met her mother. She connected via video with other family membersReuters
Another photo shows the entire woman. She is wearing a green tracksuit and has a bandaged hand. The Hostage and Missing Families Forum, which represents the family, said she lost two fingers when she was shot in the hand during her abduction.
Emily Damari and her mother MandyReuters
A similar photo was also published by the Israeli Defense Forces. “Emily is finally back where she belongs – safe in her mother's arms, still smiling and stronger than ever,” they wrote.
“I want to thank everyone who never stopped fighting for Emily during this terrible ordeal and never stopped saying her name. In Israel, the United Kingdom, the United States and around the world. Thank you for bringing Emily home,” she said in a statement to CNN Mandy, Damari's mother.
Three women and their mothers together again
Reuters showed photos of all those released, hugging their mothers at the reception center on Kibbutz Reim in Israel.
Emily Damari and her mother MandyReuters
Doron Steinbrecher and her mother Simona SteinbrecherReuters
Romi Gonen and her mother Meirav GonenReuters
Another recording released by the army shows the mothers of three hostages waiting at the center watching a recording of the handover of their daughters on the phone of an Israeli military officer.
The mothers of three hostages watch the video of their daughters' releaseReuters
Tears of emotion
The Israel Defense Forces released a clip showing the family of 24-year-old Romi Gonen watching footage of her release. The young woman's father, Eitan Gonen, jumps up, throwing his clenched fists in the air. After a while, she holds her head and bursts into tears.
Eitan Gonen, the father of one of the hostages, reacted with tears to the video of her releaseReuters
Another video shows other members of the woman's family gathered in front of the TV, watching the broadcast of her return. You can hear shouts, cheers, singing. You can see smiles and tears.
Romi Gonen's relatives watch her release on TVReuters
The Steinbrecher family released a statement, shared by the Hostages and Missing Families Forum. “After an unbearable 471 days, our beloved Dodo has finally returned to our arms. We want to express our sincere gratitude to everyone who supported us and accompanied us on this journey,” they wrote. It was added that Doron is now undergoing rehabilitation.
Joy among friends
Another video showed Emily Damari's friends gathered at the hospital in Ramat Gan, near Tel Aviv, where she was transported. They shouted, sang and danced, carrying Israeli flags and a banner with the image of a woman.
Emily Damari's friends gathered outside the hospital where she was taken
Main photo source: Reuters