The long-awaited cease-fire deal between Israel and Hamas took effect on Sunday, leading to the release of the first three hostages held in Gaza since October 7, 2023.
The start of the truce was delayed by two to three hours after Hamas failed to release the names of the hostages set to be released Sunday, a sign of the fragile truce between the two warring sides. Hamas eventually released the names, noting it is still committed to the agreement.
All three women — Romi Gonen, 24; Emily Damari, 28; and Doron Steinbrecher, 31 — had been held captive in Gaza since Hamas’s terror attack on Israel 15 months ago.
Gonen was kidnapped from the Nova music festival, where some 360 individuals were killed among the total 1,200 death toll, while Damari and Steinbrecher were taken from their homes in Kibbutz Kfar Aza. Notably, Damari is an Israeli-British dual citizen.
The Israel Defense Forces confirmed Hamas handed over the three women to the Red Cross in Gaza and that the transport is en route to the Israeli military in the Palestinian enclave. The three hostages remain in good health, the Red Cross reported to Israeli authorities. The IDF is now bringing them to Israel.
Israel and Hamas reportedly agreed upon the six-week pause in fighting last week. But as alleged by Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the terrorist group threw the deal into a “last-minute crisis” after attempting to withdraw from a clause that would grant Israel veto power over the release of the worst Palestinian prisoners detained in the Jewish state.
A majority of Israel’s full cabinet ultimately approved the deal early Saturday morning local time after a year of mediation by the U.S., Qatar, and Egypt. Under the proposed agreement, dozens of Israeli hostages will be released in three phases in exchange for the freedom of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, many of whom have been charged with mass murder and terrorism.
The first phase will see the release of 33 hostages, including some Americans, over a 42-day period. During that time, the IDF will begin a staged withdrawal from populated areas of Gaza and allow additional aid into the territory.
The second phase of the agreement will include talks on additional hostage releases, further withdrawals of Israeli troops, and security protocols to allow Palestinians to return to northern Gaza. The remaining hostages would be released, and the IDF would fully withdraw from Gaza during the third phase of the agreement if the two sides get that far.
President Joe Biden and President-elect Donald Trump both pressed for a deal to be reached before the latter’s inauguration on Monday.
When asked by a reporter on who should be given credit for the cease-fire, Biden asked if the question was a “joke,” seemingly snubbing Trump’s involvement in negotiating the final agreement.
Trump previously vowed there would be “all hell to pay” in the Middle East if the hostages held by Hamas weren’t released by his second inauguration. Trump’s threat was reportedly directed at Israel as well as Hamas.
The incoming president has given his full support for Israel to continue fighting if Hamas violates the deal before the second phase, Netanyahu told his cabinet on Friday. Netanyahu also said Trump would unfreeze weapons shipments, which the Israeli prime minister alleged the Biden administration withheld.
Meanwhile, Trump praised Sunday’s impending release of the first three hostages. “Hostages starting to come out today! Three wonderful young women will be first,” he posted on Truth Social.
The cease-fire is the second such deal achieved during the Israel–Hamas war. In November 2023, the first cease-fire lasted just under a week. The temporary truce led to the release of 105 Israeli hostages in exchange for 240 Palestinian prisoners.
About 250 hostages were abducted by Hamas terrorists on October 7. Fewer than 100 hostages, both living and dead, remain captive in Gaza. Israeli authorities estimate a third of those remaining are dead.