Three Hostages Cross Into Israeli Territory After 471 Days as Ceasefire Begins

After 471 long and agonizing days, a glimmer of hope emerged on Sunday as three Israeli hostages crossed into Israeli territory, marking the beginning of a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. The release of the hostages, identified as Romin Gonen, Doron Steinbrecher, and Emily Damari, was the first step in a complex deal mediated by the United States, Qatar, and Egypt.

The hostages, who had been held captive since the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel, were released by Hamas militants to the Red Cross around 10:30 a.m. EST, 5:30 p.m. local time. They were then handed over to the Israel Defense Force (IDF) for initial wellness checks at special reception centers near the border with Gaza. After the checks, they were transferred to hospitals inside Israel, where areas had been prepared to welcome them and treat any medical needs they might have.



The release of the hostages is a significant milestone in the 15-month war, which has claimed the lives of tens of thousands of people and displaced millions. The ceasefire, which began at 11:15 a.m. local time, is a first step toward ultimately ending the conflict and returning nearly 100 hostages abducted in the Oct. 7 attack.

However, the ceasefire got off to a bumpy start, with a three-hour delay due to disagreements over the release of the hostages. Israel had vowed to keep fighting until it received the names of the hostages to be freed, and the military struck several militant targets in northern and central Gaza after the delay. Despite the setback, celebrations erupted across the war-ravaged territory, and some Palestinians began returning to their homes.



The ceasefire is the first step in a long and fragile process aimed at winding down the war. Over the next six weeks, a total of 33 hostages will be returned from Gaza, and hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and detainees will be released. Israeli forces will pull back into a buffer zone inside Gaza, and many displaced Palestinians will be able to return home. The devastated territory will also see a surge in humanitarian aid.

Negotiations on the far more difficult second phase of this ceasefire are set to begin in just over two weeks. Major questions remain, including whether the war will resume after the six-week first phase and how the rest of the nearly 100 hostages in Gaza will be freed.

As the ceasefire begins, the world watches and hopes for a lasting peace in the region. The release of the three hostages is a sign of progress, but the road to a permanent resolution remains long and uncertain.