Who are the three Israeli hostages released?

One young woman, one of three Israeli women released after being held hostage by Hamas for 471 days, was described as “happiest when dancing.”

Romi Gonen, 24, was arrested while trying to flee the Nova music festival when he was targeted by armed groups as part of an attack on October 7, 2023.

She was released along with Doron Steinbrecher, 31, a vet nurse, and Emily Damari, 28, who holds dual British-Israeli citizenship.

It was confirmed on Sunday afternoon that three hostages had been handed over to the Red Cross by Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

Their release forms part of the first phase of a ceasefire and hostage release agreement between Israel and Hamas that began on Sunday. A total of 33 hostages are scheduled to be released over the next six weeks.

Romi traveled from his home in Kfar Beradim, northern Israel, to attend the Nova festival in the southern Negev desert.

More than 360 people were killed during the festival after Hamas fighters crossed the border 2km (1.3 miles) to the west. The desert landscape provided limited cover for partygoers and exit routes were blocked by gunmen.

As the attack began and sirens blared, Romy called her family. Her mother, Meirav, recalled hearing gunshots and yelling in Arabic during her last phone call with her daughter.

Romi was attacked by Hamas militants as he tried to flee.

Last June, her mother gave a speech to the United Nations Human Rights Council appealing for international support to free the hostages.

The Hostage and Missing Families Forum said she went to the festival “to do what she loves: dancing.” She studied for 12 years, appeared in solo performances and became an “amazing choreographer.”

A video posted to a family forum last November described her as “the girl with the biggest smile, brightest light and greatest friends.”

The forum also said that Romy’s bedroom in the house “remains exactly as it was when she left” and that they are awaiting her return.

Doron, a 31-year-old veterinarian, was kidnapped in a Hamas attack from his apartment in Kibbutz Kfar Aza, near Gaza’s northwest border.

The community, one of many Israeli villages along the border, was heavily targeted by militants during the October 7 attack.

Israeli officials said Hamas burned down homes, killed civilians, including entire families, and took hostages.

As the assault began, Doron contacted family and friends via WhatsApp and told them he was hiding under his bed as militants approached, the Forum for Hostages and Missing Families said.

In her final voice message, she can be heard screaming, “They got me,” while gunshots can be heard in the background.

Doron’s family received no information about her whereabouts for nearly four months.

Last May, her younger sister, Yamit Ashkenazi, wrote a touching letter through a forum for families of missing persons, calling her “my sunshine.”

“We hope you feel the energy we are sending you,” it said.

And in a previous post, Doron was described as “the glue that connects all of my friends: attentive and funny, always smiling and the first to offer help.”

She studied theater and film at school, developed a love for animals and became a veterinary nurse.

In an interview with the BBC in November 2023, Doron’s sister Yamit spoke about her new tattoo. It said: “We will rise again like the sun.” However, some of the sun’s rays are missing.

“It will be added when she gets home,” she added.

Emily, a 28-year-old British-Israeli national, was also taken hostage at Kibbutz Kfar Aja on October 7, 2023.

She was shot in the hand and dragged from her home to Gaza during the attack, where she also saw her dog shot dead.

Her mother, Mandy Damari, was also at the kibbutz in her own separate home on October 7. Madam Damari was hiding in the safe room when a bullet hit the door handle and saved her life, preventing the attackers from entering.

As the assault began, Emily sent her mother a text message containing a heart emoji. This was their last contact.

Last December, Mrs Damari told the BBC how worried she was about the situation facing her daughter. Sunday was the first time they had received information about Emily since March.

When news of her release came, A source close to her family said “It was a painful 471 days, especially a painful 24 hours,” he said.

“All Emily’s mom Mandy wants to do is hug Emily, but she won’t believe it until she sees it,” the source said.

Mrs Damari was born and raised in England and met her husband when she was 20 while on holiday in Israel.

Emily, the youngest of four children, has strong ties to England. She is a Tottenham Hotspur fan and frequently visits to see relatives, attend concerts, shop and visit pubs here.

Mrs Damari previously told the BBC that Emily was “the heart of our family, but that heart is missing”.

“I love her like moonlight and she is a special person,” she added.

Israel stated that the whereabouts of 94 hostages were unknown before the ceasefire, but that only 60 were still alive.

Another 30 Israeli hostages, in addition to the three on Sunday, are scheduled to be released during the first phase of the ceasefire agreement. Israel’s prime minister said most of the 30 were alive.

In Israel it was named as follows:

Karina Ariev20; Izik Elgarat, 69; Riri Albag19; Daniela Gilboa20; Agam Burger20; Ohad Ben Ami55; Arbel Yahud29; Alexander (Sasha) Trufanov29; Sagi Dekel-Chen36; Omer Benkert23; Yair Horn46; Oded Lifschitz84; face plate20; Or a levy34; Elijah Cohen27; Ohad Yahalomi50; Chachi if50; Keith Siegel65; Shlomo Mansur86; Gadi Moses80; Ellie Sharabi52; Omer Shem Tov22; Tal Shoham39; Offer Calderon53; Yarden Vivas34; Shri Viva33; Ariel Drink; Kfir Vivas.

The list also included two men. Hisham Al Said35 and Avera MengistuThe 27-year-old came to Gaza from Israel before the war and was arrested by Hamas.