Summarize this content to 2000 words in 6 paragraphs Sunday marked the first phase of hostage and prisoner exchange between Israel and Hamas as they proceed with a ceasefire deal after 15 months of conflict.The ContextRomi Gonen, 24; Emily Damari, 28; and Doron Steinbrecher, 31, were the first hostages to be released, transported by van from Gaza to the Red Cross to facilitate the exchange.All three women were taken hostage on October 7, 2023, during Hamas’ attack on Israel. Gonen was at the Nova music festival and was shot in the hand during her abduction, according to local media.Before the deal, at least 117 hostages had been released, mostly in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. The Israeli government believed that at least 98 hostages remained in Hamas captivity, although the figure may include the remains of dozens who died or were killed during the conflict.Three American hostages—Sagui Dekel-Chen, Edan Alexander and Keith Siegel—are believed to be alive in Gaza, alongside the remains of an additional four U.S. hostages.
Supporters and relatives of hostages held captive in the Gaza Strip since the October 7, 2023 attacks by Palestinian militants, react while watching a live television broadcast on the release of Israeli hostages, at the…
Supporters and relatives of hostages held captive in the Gaza Strip since the October 7, 2023 attacks by Palestinian militants, react while watching a live television broadcast on the release of Israeli hostages, at the Hostages Square in Tel Aviv, on January 19, 2025. Three women hostages held by militants in the Gaza Strip for more than 15 months are on January 19 to become the first freed under a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
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Menahem Kahana/AFP via Getty Images
What To KnowWhile Israel wanted a list of hostages released in each exchange, Hamas did provide a full list of the 33 hostages to be released in the first phase.The hostages to be released are:Liri AlbagItzhak ElgaratKarina ArievOhad Ben AmiAriel BibasYarden BibasKfir BibasShiri BibasAgam BergerGonen RomiDaniella GilboaEmily DamariSagui Dekel-ChenIair HornOmer WenkertAlexandre Sasha TroufanovArbel YehoudOhad YahalomiEliya CohenOr LevyNaama LevyOded LifshitzGadi Moshe Mozes,Avraham (Avera) Mengisto,Shlomo MantzurKeith Samuel SigalTsachi IdanOfer KalderonTal ShohamDoron SteinbrecherOmer Shem TovHisham Al-SayedEli SharabiWhat People Are SayingPresident Joe Biden addressed reporters after the first three hostages were released on Sunday, saying: “Many of those who have followed these negotiations will attest that the road to this deal has not been easy at all, and a long road, but we’ve reached the point today because of the pressure Israel built on Hamas, backed by the United States. Some said my policy of a firm support for Israel was relentlessly pursuing diplomacy, and I risked drawing America into a wider war in the region.”He added: “I listened to those voices, many of whom I respected a great deal, but I concluded abandoning the course I was on would not have led us to the ceasefire we are seeing today, but instead it would have risked the wider war in the region so many feared.”Danny Danon, Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, wrote on X: “Romi, Doron and Emily are finally home with their families. We will do whatever it takes to bring all of our hostages home. Romi, Doron, and Emily, we thought of you every single day over the past 471 days. We prayed for your safety, and worked tirelessly for your release. Now, you are finally home. Sending you and your families a big hug and wishing you health and healing.”