A young woman described as “at her happiest when she dances” is among three Israeli women released after 471 days held hostage by Hamas.
Romi Gonen, 24, was captured as she tried to escape the Nova music festival when it was targeted by the militant group as part of the 7 October 2023 attack.
She has been freed alongside Doron Steinbrecher, 31, a veterinary nurse, and Emily Damari, 28, who holds dual British-Israeli nationality.
All three arrived back in Israel on Sunday after being released by Hamas in Gaza, and were emotionally reunited with their families.
Their release forms part of the first phase of the ceasefire and hostage release deal between Israel and Hamas, which began on Sunday. A total of 33 hostages are to be freed over the next six weeks.
Romi Gonen
Romi had travelled from her home in Kfar Veradim, northern Israel, to the Nova festival, which took place in the Negev Desert in the south.
More than 360 people were killed at the festival when Hamas fighters crossed over the border, 2km (1.3 miles) to the west. The desert landscape offered partygoers limited cover and exit routes were blocked by gunmen.
When sirens sounded as the 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 Hostages and Missing Families Forum said Romi had gone to the festival “to do what she loved, to dance” – something she had studied for 12 years, starring in solo performances and becoming an “amazing choreographer”.
A video posted by the families’ forum last November described her as “the girl with the biggest smile, the brightest light, the greatest friend”.
The forum also said that Romi’s bedroom at her home “remains exactly as it was when she left”, awaiting her return.
In a video clip shared by the Israeli military, Romi’s father was seen jumping in the air before breaking down in tears as he watched footage of his daughter’s release on Sunday.
Doron Steinbrecher
Doron, a 31-year-old veterinary nurse, was abducted from her apartment in Kibbutz Kfar Aza – near Gaza’s north-western border – when Hamas attacked.
The community, one of many Israeli villages along the border, was heavily targeted by armed militants during the 7 October attacks.
Israeli officials said Hamas burned homes and killed civilians, including whole families, as well as taking hostages.
When the assault began, Doron contacted her family and friends via WhatsApp to say she was hiding under the bed as militants advanced, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum said.
In her last voice message, she was heard screaming “they’ve caught me” as shouting and gunfire sounded in the background.
Doron’s family received no information about her whereabouts for nearly four months.
“After an unbearable 471 days, our beloved Dodo has finally returned to our arms,” her family said in a statement released by the missing families forum on Sunday.
They added: “We want to express our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who supported and accompanied us along this journey.”
She studied theatre and film in school, and developed a love for animals that led to her becoming a veterinary nurse.
Emily Damari
[PA Media]
Emily, a 28-year-old British-Israeli national, was also taken hostage from Kibbutz Kfar Aza on 7 October 2023.
She was shot in the hand and taken into Gaza from her home during the attack, and also saw her dog shot and killed. Photographs after her release showed Emily with a bandaged hand and two missing fingers from that attack.
Her mother, Mandy Damari, was also in the kibbutz in her separate home on 7 October. Mrs Damari hid in the safe room and was saved by a bullet hitting the door handle, making it impossible for attackers to get in.
As the assault unfolded, Emily sent her mother a text message containing a single heart emoji – that was the last contact they had.
Emotional images showed Emily reunited with her mother in Israel on Sunday, hugging while on a video call with her brother.
“I want to thank everyone who never stopped fighting for Emily throughout this horrendous ordeal, and who never stopped saying her name,” Mrs Damari said.
“In Israel, Britain, the United States, and around the world. Thank you for bringing Emily home.”
Mrs Damari was born and raised in the UK, and met her husband on a holiday in Israel aged 20.
Emily, the youngest of four children, has strong connections with the UK – she is a Tottenham Hotspur fan and would often visit to see relatives.
More Israeli hostages are due to be released
Prior to the ceasefire, Israel said 94 hostages remained unaccounted for but it believed only 60 to be still alive.
Following the three on Sunday, another 30 Israeli hostages are due to be released throughout the first phase of the ceasefire deal. Israel’s prime minister has said most of the 30 are alive.
They have been named by Israel as:
Karina Ariev, 20; Itzik Elgarat, 69; Liri Albag, 19; Daniela Gilboa, 20; Agam Berger, 20; Ohad Ben Ami, 55; Arbel Yahud, 29; Alexander (Sasha) Troufanov, 29; Sagui Dekel-Chen, 36; Omer Wenkert, 23; Yair Horn, 46; Oded Lifshitz, 84; Naama Levy, 20; Or Levy, 34; Eliya Cohen, 27; Ohad Yahalomi, 50; Tsachi Idan, 50; Keith Siegel, 65; Shlomo Mansour, 86; Gadi Moses, 80; Eli Sharabi, 52; Omer Shem Tov, 22; Tal Shoham, 39; Ofer Kalderon, 53; Yarden Bibas, 34; Shiri Bibas, 33; Ariel Bibas; Kfir Bibas.
The list also includes two men Hisham al-Sayed, 35, and Avera Mengistu, 27, who were captured by Hamas after crossing into Gaza from Israel before the war.
