A Palestinian prisoner embraces a relative upon the arrival of some 90 prisoners set free by Israel in the early hours of January 20, 2025, in the occupied West Bank town of Beitunia, on the outskirts of Ramallah. Crowds cheered, chanted and honked car horns as two buses carrying the prisoners arrived in Beitunia following their release as part of the Gaza ceasefire deal that began on January 19 and saw three Israeli hostages freed by Hamas in the Gaza Strip. (Photo by Zain JAAFAR / AFP)
Gaza/Israel – January 20, 2025: In a significant development in the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, three female hostages were reunited with their mothers in Israel following their release by Hamas. The hostages, Romi Gonen, Doron Steinbrecher, and Emily Damari, had been abducted during the October 7, 2023 Hamas raid, which sparked the war. The emotional reunion took place at a meeting point near the kibbutz and music festival where they were captured.
The release occurred as part of a broader ceasefire agreement that came into effect following intense diplomatic efforts. A crowd in Tel Aviv watched a live broadcast of the moment, cheering and weeping as the three women were seen being transported in a Red Cross vehicle surrounded by armed Hamas fighters.
In Gaza, crowds cheered as Hamas fighters paraded through Khan Younis, while in the north, areas heavily bombed during the conflict showed signs of devastation, with survivors carefully navigating through wreckage.
In a statement to the press, U.S. President Joe Biden welcomed the ceasefire, highlighting the arduous diplomatic journey to reach this agreement. He credited Israel’s pressure on Hamas, supported by the United States, as the key factor in achieving the truce. “Today the guns in Gaza have gone silent,” Biden said, noting the significance of the deal for both sides.
Under the terms of the ceasefire, hundreds of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel are being released, with the first phase of the agreement expected to free 69 women and 21 teenage boys. Meanwhile, 33 Israeli and foreign hostages remain in captivity, with plans for further phases of the deal to ensure their release.
The deal has been met with cautious optimism, with calls for full implementation to avoid further violence and suffering. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer expressed relief over the release of British citizen Emily Damari, while acknowledging the ongoing trauma for those still in captivity.
UN Women welcomed the ceasefire, emphasizing the relief it brings to the one million women and children who have been subjected to the conflict’s brutality. The organization called for the continued protection of women and girls in both Gaza and Israel, hoping that the ceasefire paves the way for lasting peace in the region.
Despite the hope sparked by the ceasefire, both sides face immense challenges ahead as the road to stability remains uncertain.
Residents of Copenhagen celebrate the ceasefire between Israel and the Hamas at The Red Square in the Noerrebro district, in Copenhagen, Denmark, on January 19, 2025. (Photo by Emil Nicolai Helms / Ritzau Scanpix / AFP) / Denmark OUT / DENMARK OUT
Palestinian prisoners set free by Israel in the early hours of January 20, 2025 celebrate upon their arrival in the occupied West Bank town of Beitunia, on the outskirts of Ramallah. Crowds cheered, chanted and honked car horns as two buses carrying some 90 prisoners arrived in Beitunia following their release as part of the Gaza ceasefire deal that began on January 19 and saw three Israeli hostages freed by Hamas in the Gaza Strip. (Photo by JOHN WESSELS / AFP)
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