Hamas hands over 3 female Israeli captives to Red Cross under Gaza cease-fire deal
Al-Qassam Brigades hand over 3 female Israeli hostages to Red Cross at al-Saraya as part of 1st phase of ceasefire and prisoner swap deal between Israel and Hamas, in Gaza City, Gaza, Jan. 19, 2025. (AA Photo)
The Palestinian resistance group Hamas handed over three female Israeli captives to the Red Cross on Sunday under the first phase of a cease-fire and prisoner exchange agreement.
The three captives were handed over by Hamas’ armed wing, the Qassam Brigades, at Saraya Square in central Gaza City, according to an Anadolu reporter. The Israeli army confirmed that it had been notified by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) that the captives—Romi Gonen, Emily Damari, and Doron Steinbrecher—had been released.
The army said the ICRC was now bringing the captives to Israeli forces inside the Gaza Strip.
A large number of Qassam members and their vehicles gathered in central Gaza City during the handover process.
Meanwhile, Israeli army said that the three female Israeli captives are now in the hands of its forces in Gaza after they were handed over by the Red Cross.
According to Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronoth, the three freed captives are in good health.
The Gaza cease-fire agreement took effect at 11:15 a.m. local time (0915 GMT) on Sunday, after a few hours’ delay due to Israeli accusations that Hamas had delayed the release of a list of captives due to be freed. The cease-fire was originally scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m. local time.
Ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza
Since the beginning of Israel’s offensive on Gaza on Oct. 7, 2023, nearly 47,000 people, mostly women and children, have been killed, and over 110,700 others have been injured, according to local health authorities. The war has left more than 11,000 people missing, contributing to widespread destruction and a humanitarian crisis.
The ongoing conflict has claimed the lives of many elderly people and children, marking one of the worst global humanitarian disasters in recent history.
In November, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
Israel is also facing a genocide case at the International Court of Justice over its war on the enclave.
