The 3 Israeli hostages are now back in Israel
The three Israeli hostages released by Hamas on Sunday are now back in Israel, according to a statement from the Israeli military.
Romi Gonen, Doron Steinbrecher, and Emily Damari are being reunited with their mothers, who traveled to Re’im in southern Israel, to meet them.
“The released hostages are currently on their way to an initial reception point in southern Israel, where they will undergo an initial medical assessment,” the military said.
They will then be transferred to Sheba Medical Center in Tel Aviv.
Earlier, the Red Cross transferred the hostages to the Israeli military in Gaza, the military said in a statement.
Biden says "guns in Gaza have gone silent" as Hamas hands over 3 hostages
US President Joe Biden said Sunday that the “guns in Gaza have gone silent” as Hamas handed over three hostages, the first of 33 to be released during the first phase of the ceasefire that took effect Sunday.
“The deal that I first put forward last May for the Middle East has finally come to fruition. The ceasefire has gone into effect in Gaza, and today, we’re seeing hostages being released, three Israeli women held against (their) will in the dark tunnels for 470 days,” Biden said.
“After so much pain, destruction, loss of life, today, the guns in Gaza have gone silent,” he added.
Displaced Gazans have started returning to their homes, while the aid trucks laden with much needed supplies have crossed into the enclave.
“We can breathe a little more again.” Israelis rejoice at release of hostages
Israelis were elated following the release of three hostages from Gaza on Sunday, saying it almost feels unreal after so many months of waiting.
“It’s a very emotional moment,” Tania Coen-Uzzielli, director of Tel Aviv Museum of Art, told CNN from Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square. “We were waiting for this moment since the last release which was more than one year ago.”
Coen-Uzzielli said she could feel “the pulse” of the plaza every day, as it is located right next to her museum. Hostages Square saw many Israelis gather in solidarity with the hostages held in Gaza every day.
“Everybody is crying,” she said.
Mai, another woman, who declined to give a second name, said, “We can breathe a little more again” after months of waiting. “And we are going to be here until the very last one comes back.”
However, Mai cautioned, “We don’t know what it means about what they went through and how they are physically and mentally,” adding that “they are three incredibly strong women.”
Coen-Uzzielli, the museum director, hopes this can be “the start of a new period,” which may one day end the war with Hamas.
“I really hope that an international force will influence the ultimate decision to continue the release of the hostages and to stop this tragic war,” she said.
Large crowd in Tel Aviv seeks to welcome captives
Video from the ground in Israel, verified by Al Jazeera’s fact-checking unit, shows a gathering of people in what has come to be known as Hostages Square in Tel Aviv.
They are there to support the three captives who have just been released by Hamas into the custody of the Israeli army.
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