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| Who are the three Israeli hostages being released by Hamas? | Who are the three Israeli hostages being released by Hamas? |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| From left to right: Romi Gonen, Emily Damari and Doron Steinbrecher | |
| A daughter described as "at her happiest when she dances" will be among the three Israeli women due to be released after 471 days held hostage by Hamas. | A daughter described as "at her happiest when she dances" will be among the three Israeli women due to be released after 471 days held hostage by Hamas. |
| Romi Gonen, 24, was among those captured by the militant group as she tried to escape the Nova festival during the 7 October 2023 attack. | Romi Gonen, 24, was among those captured by the militant group as she tried to escape the Nova festival during the 7 October 2023 attack. |
| She is expected to be freed alongside Doron Steinbrecher, 31, a veterinary nurse, and Emily Damari, 28, who holds dual British-Israeli nationality. | She is expected to be freed alongside Doron Steinbrecher, 31, a veterinary nurse, and Emily Damari, 28, who holds dual British-Israeli nationality. |
| Their release forms part of the first phase of the deal between Israel and Hamas - a delay in Israel getting the three names, which Hamas blamed on "technical field reasons", pushed the ceasefire back by nearly three hours. | Their release forms part of the first phase of the deal between Israel and Hamas - a delay in Israel getting the three names, which Hamas blamed on "technical field reasons", pushed the ceasefire back by nearly three hours. |
| Follow the latest updates here | Follow the latest updates here |
| Romi Gonen | Romi Gonen |
| Romi with her grandmother, Dvora Lesham | Romi with her grandmother, Dvora Lesham |
| Romi had travelled from her home in Kfar Veradim, in the north of Israel, to the Nova festival. | Romi had travelled from her home in Kfar Veradim, in the north of Israel, to the Nova festival. |
| The Hostages and Missing Families Forum, which represents her family, said she had gone "to do what she loved, to dance" - something she had studied for 12 years, starring in solo performances and becoming an "amazing choreographer". | The Hostages and Missing Families Forum, which represents her family, said she had gone "to do what she loved, to dance" - something she had studied for 12 years, starring in solo performances and becoming an "amazing choreographer". |
| When sirens sounded as the Hamas attack unfolded, Romi called her family. Her mother, Meirav, recalled hearing shots and shouting in Arabic in the final call with her daughter. | When sirens sounded as the Hamas attack unfolded, Romi called her family. Her mother, Meirav, recalled hearing shots and shouting in Arabic in the final call with her daughter. |
| Romi was ambushed by Hamas militants as she tried to flee the festival. | Romi was ambushed by Hamas militants as she tried to flee the festival. |
| A video posted by the families' forum last November described her as "the girl with the biggest smile, the brightest light, the greatest friend". | A video posted by the families' forum last November described her as "the girl with the biggest smile, the brightest light, the greatest friend". |
| Doron Steinbrecher | Doron Steinbrecher |
| Doron, a 31-year-old veterinary nurse, was abducted from her apartment in Kibbutz Kfar Aza when Hamas attacked. | Doron, a 31-year-old veterinary nurse, was abducted from her apartment in Kibbutz Kfar Aza when Hamas attacked. |
| In May last year, her sister, Yamit Ashkenazi, penned an emotional letter through the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, calling her "my sunshine". | In May last year, her sister, Yamit Ashkenazi, penned an emotional letter through the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, calling her "my sunshine". |
| "I wish you could feel the energy we send to you," it read. | "I wish you could feel the energy we send to you," it read. |
| "I wish you were aware of, at least, some of the battle we are fighting here for your release. I wish you could feel it all. Loving you, longing for you, heartbroken, yet still fighting for you." | "I wish you were aware of, at least, some of the battle we are fighting here for your release. I wish you could feel it all. Loving you, longing for you, heartbroken, yet still fighting for you." |
| And in an earlier post, Doron was described as "the glue that connects all her friends, sensitive and funny, always smiling and the first to offer help". | And in an earlier post, Doron was described as "the glue that connects all her friends, sensitive and funny, always smiling and the first to offer help". |
| She studied theatre and film in school, and developed a love for animals that led to her becoming a veterinary nurse. | She studied theatre and film in school, and developed a love for animals that led to her becoming a veterinary nurse. |
| Speaking to the BBC in November 2023, Doron's sister Yamit spoke of a new tattoo. It read: "As the sun we will rise again", but had some of the sun's rays missing. | Speaking to the BBC in November 2023, Doron's sister Yamit spoke of a new tattoo. It read: "As the sun we will rise again", but had some of the sun's rays missing. |
| "They will be added when she is home," she added. | "They will be added when she is home," she added. |
| Emily Damari | Emily Damari |
| Emily, a 28-year-old who holds dual British-Israeli nationality, was also taken hostage from Kibbutz Kfar Aza during the 7 October attack. | Emily, a 28-year-old who holds dual British-Israeli nationality, was also taken hostage from Kibbutz Kfar Aza during the 7 October attack. |
| As news of her release came on Sunday, a source close to her family said that it had been a "torturous 471 days but a particularly torturous 24 hours". | As news of her release came on Sunday, a source close to her family said that it had been a "torturous 471 days but a particularly torturous 24 hours". |
| "All Emily's mum Mandy wants to do is hug Emily. But she won't believe it until she sees it," the source said. | "All Emily's mum Mandy wants to do is hug Emily. But she won't believe it until she sees it," the source said. |
| Emily has strong connections with the UK - she is a Tottenham Hotspur fan and would often visit to see relatives, attend concerts, go shopping and visit the pub here. | Emily has strong connections with the UK - she is a Tottenham Hotspur fan and would often visit to see relatives, attend concerts, go shopping and visit the pub here. |
| Her mother, Mandy Damari, previously told the BBC that Emily is "the core of our family and the core is missing". | Her mother, Mandy Damari, previously told the BBC that Emily is "the core of our family and the core is missing". |
| "I love her to the moon and back, she is a special person," she added. | "I love her to the moon and back, she is a special person," she added. |