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20:37 – Released hostages reach Sheba hospital
The three returnees have now landed at the hospital, the IDF confirmed in a statement.
The three arrived at Sheba Medical Center “along with their mothers, where they will meet the rest of their families and receive medical treatment.”
“The IDF, the Shin Bet, Mossad and the health system are prepared to continue receiving additional hostages and are working to return all hostages,” the military’s statement read.
20:10 – Three released hostages are taken to Sheba hospital
Romi Gonen, Emily Damari, Doron Steinbrecher are being taken by helicopters to Safra Children’s Hospital at the Sheba Medical Center in central Israel, where they will remain the coming days.
There, they will meet their extended families, and will be treated and start rehabilitation with the help of specially-trained medical and psychological teams.
20:02 – Doron Steinbrecher’s family: ‘Our beloved Dudu has returned’
In a first statement, the family of Doron Steinbrecher, who was released today from Hamas captivity, stated: “After 471 unbearably difficult days, our beloved Dudu returned to our arms.”
“We want to thank everyone who supported and accompanied us along the way from the bottom of our hearts. A special thanks to the people of Israel for the warm embrace, the unceasing support and the strength you gave us in the most difficult moments.”
“Thanks also to President Trump for his involvement and support, which were very significant for us. Our heroine Dudu, who survived 471 days in the Hamas basements, begins her rehabilitation journey today.”
“We will continue to stand by all the families and do everything we can until all their loved ones return home,” the Steinbrecher family said.
19:28 – Mother of Emily Damari: ‘After 471 days – Emily is finally home’
The mother of Emily Damari, who was released from Hamas captivity today, released a short statement:
“We would like to thank everyone who fought tirelessly for Emily throughout this difficult time from the bottom of our hearts.”
“To everyone who raised her voice and called her name, in Israel, England, the United States and the whole world – thank you. Thanks to you, Emily came home.”
“Emily’s nightmare in Gaza is over, but there are still too many families still waiting in pain. We must work together for the release of all the abductees, down to the last one. Those still in captivity need immediate humanitarian assistance,” she said.
18:51 – Freed hostages meet with their mothers at reception point near border
The three freed hostages have reached the initial reception point near the Gaza border and are now meeting with their mothers, the IDF stated.
“Troops and medical personnel of the IDF accompany the returnees who will undergo an initial medical evaluation. IDF representatives are accompanying the family members to the hospital and give them regular updates.”
After around an hour, the freed hostages will be taken to a hospital for medical exams and to meet the rest of their families.
The military also published footage of the moment when the convoy carrying Doron Steinbrecher, Emily Damari and Romi Gonen crossed the border and reached Israeli soil.
רגע חציית השבות ארצה, לשטח מדינת ישראל pic.twitter.com/941dfT15B1
— צבא ההגנה לישראל (@idfonline) January 19, 2025
18:09 President Herzog on return of hostages
President Isaac Herzog posted a statement to X on the news that the hostages were safely back in Israel.
“Romi, Emily, and Doron – so beloved and missed – an entire nation rejoices at your return.
We send you and your families a huge embrace. This is a day of joy and comfort, and the beginning of a challenging journey of recovery and healing together.”
Romi, Emily, and Doron – so beloved and missed – an entire nation rejoices at your return.
We send you and your families a huge embrace. This is a day of joy and comfort, and the beginning of a challenging journey of recovery and healing together.
“The eyes weep bitterly,…
— יצחק הרצוג Isaac Herzog (@Isaac_Herzog) January 19, 2025
18:03 – Israeli hostages arrive to meeting point on Israeli soil
The IDF Spokesperson confirmed that the three hostages, Romi Gonen, Emily Damari, and Doron Steinbrecher have crossed into Israeli territory and are now on their way to the initial reception point in the Gaza envelope.
There, they will undergo a preliminary medical evaluation by IDF medical staff before transfer to hospitals within Israel.
17:15: Israeli hostages arrived in a Red Cross vehicle to a crowded section full of Hamas terrorists overseeing their transfer
News cameras confirmed on the ground in Gaza that all three hostages are alive and were transferred into the hands of the Red Cross who are taking them right now to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).
16:13: Israeli Air Force helicopter en route to retrieve the Israeli hostages
The IAF is in flight, headed to a predecided location in Gaza to retrieve the Israeli hostages from the Red Cross. The IDF is to alert the public when the hostages have been transferred and details about their conditions to be released soon after.
15:17 – International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has begun the process of accepting released hostages
The first three Israeli hostages set to be released from Hamas captivity – Romi Gonen, Emily Damari, and Doron Steinbrecher – are awaiting transfer from the ICRC to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in an undisclosed location. The IDF will transport the three released hostages across the border where they will go to predetermined hospital locations.
12:01 – Egyptians report aid trucks already entering Gaza Strip
Egyptian media reported a few minutes ago that Egyptian trucks carrying humanitarian aid have already entered the Gaza Strip through the Kerem Shalom crossing. As part of the ceasefire deal, Israel agreed to allow an increase in humanitarian aid into the Strip.
11:12 – Brother of hostage Romi Gonen says she will be released today
Shahaf Gonen, the brother of hostage Romi Gonen, posted to his Instagram account that his sister Romi’s name was on the list of hostages to be released today.
Romi Gonen was abducted from the Nova party in Re’im, near the Gaza border.
She was shot in the hand while attempting to flee, and according to reports from hostages released in November 2023, the wound was not properly treated. Her current condition is not known.
11:10 – The ceasefire will go into effect at 11:15
According to a statement by the Prime Minister’s Office, after a wave of strikes this morning, the military forces in the Gaza Strip will be ordered to cease offensive operations and officially start the ceasefire at 11:15 today.
10:58 – First 3 hostages to be released after 16:00
The Prime Minister’s Office confirmed that Israel has received the list of hostages.
“Israel has received the list of the hostages who are due to be released today according to the framework. The security establishment is now checking the details,” the statement said.
Announcement from the Directorate of Hostage, Returnees, and Missing Persons in the Prime Minister’s Office:
“The families of the abductees have been updated with the list of abductees who will be released today in the first phase of the plan. According to the summaries, the release is scheduled to take place today, after 4:00 PM. 4 additional abductees who are still alive are scheduled to be released in 7 days. The families will be updated with the names of those being released 24 hours before this date.”
10:31 – Hamas reportedly passes list of hostage names to Israel
After a delay of 18 hours, the Hamas terror group has reportedly passed a list of names to the Israeli government of the first three hostages to be released. An Israeli government official confirmed that the list was received, however, the names of the hostages have not been released. It is still unclear whether the hostages are from the list Israel provided earlier in 2024.
10:25 – Ben Gvir’s Jewish Power party leaves coalition government over hostage deal
National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir announced his resignation from the government along with other ministers from his Jewish Power party. Ben Gvir had previously threatened to leave the government if the deal was approved, calling it a “surrender” to Hamas, while encouraging his political ally, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich to join him.
“In light of the approval of the reckless agreement with the Hamas terror organization, the release of hundreds of murderers who have the blood of men, women, and children on their hands – who are also being released to Jerusalem and Judea and Samaria, while relinquishing the IDF’s achievements in the war, the withdrawal of IDF forces from the Gaza Strip and the cessation of hostilities in Gaza, in an agreement that is a surrender to Hamas, the ministers of the Jewish Power party, Itamar Ben Gvir, Yitzhak Wasserlauf and Amichai Eliyahu submitted letters of resignation from their positions, to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu,” the party wrote.
“In addition, the party’s Knesset members, Zvika Fogel, Limor Son-Har Melech and Yitzhak Kreuzer, submitted letters of resignation from their positions on the various committees to the coalition chairman. As of this time, the Jewish Power party is not a member of the coalition.”
10:15 – Religious Zionism MK threatens to leave government over hostage deal
Knesset member Zvi Sukkot, of Religious Zionism told Ynet in an interview that his party could leave the coalition government.
“We are opposed from the first moment, this is a terrible deal, and it will lead to horrible and terrible things – I was sure that we would dismantle the government,” Sukkot said. “What we see today in Gaza is an existential danger to the State of Israel.”
He said his party has already informed Prime Minister Netanyahu that they could leave.
“We have informed the prime minister very clearly: If we don’t return to fighting, we will resign from the government. For me, there are no political implications that help me, because in two days I’ll stop serving as a Knesset member.”
09:58 – Hamas says it will release names of hostages soon
A senior Hamas official told Agence France-Presse (AFP) that Israel would “soon” receive the names of the three abductees who will be released today.
09:45 – IDF announces airstrikes in Gaza as ceasefire on hold
The IDF said fighter jets are carrying out a wave of airstrikes in the Gaza Strip, after previously announcing a resumption of military operations following the failure of Hamas to provide a list of hostages to be released.
The military said further details will be provided later.
09:30 – Palestinians report several killed in IDF strikes in Gaza
The Hamas-controlled civil defence agency claimed at least three people were killed and several injured in IDF airstrikes in the a-Sha’af neighborhood, east of Gaza City, another three people were reported killed and 20 wounded in strikes in the Shejaiya neighborhood. Palestinian reports also claimed four people were killed during artillery shelling of Beit Lahiya.
The IDF announced that military operations in Gaza will continue until Hamas provides the list of hostages to be released during the ceasefire agreement.
09:07 – IDF resumes strikes in Gaza after failure of Hamas to provide hostage names
The IDF announced in a statement that its soldiers are continuing to operate and attack terrorist targets in the Gaza Strip.
“A short time ago, several terrorist targets in the northern and central Gaza Strip were attacked with artillery fire and aircraft,” the military said. “The IDF continues to be prepared for defense and attack, and will not allow the security of the residents of the State of Israel to be harmed.”
08:35 – Netanyahu says ceasefire won’t begin until Hamas provides names
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Sunday morning that the ceasefire, which was supposed to go into effect at 8:30 a.m. local time, will not begin until Hamas provides a list of the hostages to be released.
Hamas was supposed to provide the list 24 hours before the hostages’ release. Following the announcement by Netanyahu, a Hamas representative reaffirmed the terror group’s commitment to uphold the terms of the deal, claiming the list of names will be transferred once the hostages have been moved to a safe place.
The IDF said in a statement that military operations would continue if the list of hostages was not provided by 08:30.
08:15 – IDF recovers body of Oron Shaul, who died in Operation Protective Edge in 2014
The IDF announced Sunday morning, that in a covert, special operation conducted by IDF and ISA special forces in the Gaza Strip, soldiers recovered the body of fallen IDF soldier Staff Sergeant Oron Shaul, who fell in combat in Shejaiya on July 20, 2014, during Operation Protective Edge, and whose body was abducted by the Hamas terrorist organization.
The military said efforts to return Oron, including intelligence gathering, continued for over a decade and during this war.
Following an identification procedure carried out by the National Institute of Forensic Medicine and the Military Rabbinate, IDF and ISA representatives updated the family this morning (Sunday).
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, “We have completed the mission to return Oron, and we will not rest until we also complete the mission of returning Hadar Goldin. We will continue to work to return all our abductees – both alive and fallen.”
07: 05 – IDF Arabic Spokesman warns Gaza residents not to return north
IDF Arabic Spokesman Avichay Adraee issued a warning to the residents of Gaza in the humanitarian zones, telling them not to attempt to return to the northern Gaza Strip.
“Do not approach IDF forces in the area until further notice. Approaching the forces puts you in danger,” Adraee said. “Movement from the south to the north of the Gaza Strip or towards the Netzarim road remains dangerous in light of IDF activities in the area. Once such movement is permitted, a statement and instructions will be issued regarding safe methods of movement.”
He also warned residents against approaching “the Rafah crossing area, the Philadelphi corridor area, and all areas where forces are concentrated.”
Adraee posted a picture of a map, showing the areas to avoid.
04:00 – IDF troops begin withdrawing from Rafah
Arab media reported that IDF units began to withdraw from parts of Rafah towards the Philadelphi Corridor, which Israel will continue to hold during the ceasefire.
02:10 – Saudi TV channel says Hamas will provide names of hostages today
Saudi television network Al-Arabiya reported that Hamas will provide the names of the hostages to be released later today.
00:40 – Main highway in Jerusalem blocked by anti-hostage deal protesters, police use stun grenades to clear road
After crowds of protesters blocked the Begin Highway running north-south through Jerusalem to protest the large number of terrorists being released in the deal, especially those with blood on their hands.
After a couple of hours, police began using stun grenades to clear the road when the demonstrators failed to follow police instructions to clear the highway.
00:30 – Diaspora Minister Chikli voted against the hostage deal
Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli posted a lengthy explanation for his reason for voting against the hostage release and ceasefire deal.
“I approached this vote with the clear knowledge that we are dealing with the fate of souls and with full faith that the return of the kidnapped is a moral obligation and a commandment beyond which there is no higher command,” Chikli wrote.
“I arrived when my inclination was clearly to vote in favor, and I made the decision not to support the deal only after I was exposed to the lists of terrorists expected to be released in Phase I, in terms of quantity and seniority – many hundreds of murderers and dozens of senior terrorists who were behind thousands of attacks.”
Chikli said the release sends the message that “life imprisonment in the State of Israel is a fiction,” before also mentioning the fact that most released terrorists return immediately to terrorism.
“In light of all this, I have decided with a broken heart not to support the current deal.”
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