Three hostages have been freed in the first phase of the cease-fire agreement between Hamas and Israel. The hostages, all women, were released into Red Cross custody in Gaza on Sunday and were being transferred to Israeli forces, the Israeli military said.
About 100 hostages, living and dead, are thought still to be held captive in Gaza, most of them taken in the deadly Hamas-led attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. Thirty-three of them will be released during an initial six-week phase of the cease-fire, including female soldiers and civilians, children, men over 50 and sick and wounded people, according to the agreement.
Here is what we know about the three hostages released on Sunday:
Ms. Gonen, was 23 when she was captured as she was trying to leave the Nova music festival in southern Israel when Hamas attacked. She was speaking at the time to her mother, Meirav Gonen, who she said had been shot and was bleeding.
Last February, Meirav Gonen released a recording of her last phone call with her daughter. She told Israeli news media that Romi was a strong and happy person who often went to raves.
Romi Gonen was captured as she was trying to leave the Nova festival in southern Israel.Credit…Michael Reynolds/EPA, via Shutterstock
In the early weeks of the war, her mother expressed concern that Israeli military operations in Gaza could endanger the hostages.
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