Former hostage Emily Damari took to Instagram for the first time since being taken captive by Hamas terrorists on Oct. 7, 2023, thanking her family, friends and God for her release on Sunday.

"I'm loving, loving, loving. Thanks be to God. Thanks to my family, to Oreli, to the best friends I have in this world. I have returned to life, my loved ones," she wrote on Monday, according to a screenshot shared in local media.

"I have only managed to see just a tiny bit of everything, and you have exploded my heart from emotion. Thank you, thank you, thank you. I am the happiest person in the world, just to be," Damari added.

At the end of her post, she added an "I love you" emoji, in what some Israeli media outlets saw as a possible hint at the apparent loss of two of her fingers due to being shot by Hamas during the terrorist organization's Oct. 7, 2023, cross-border massacre.

Damari, 28, and the other two former hostages Romi Gonen, 24, and Doron Steinbrecher, 31, were handed over by Hamas to representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross inside the Gaza Strip on Sunday as part of the renewed truce agreement with the terrorist group.

Following an initial medical examination at the Israel Defense Forces reception point near the Gaza border and their subsequent transfer to a hospital via helicopter, Tel Hashomer General Hospital Director Dr. Yael Frenkel Nir told local media that the women's physical condition was good enough to allow them to focus on reuniting with family members.

Hundreds of exhilarated Israelis were awaiting the return of the three hostages outside the hospital as the helicopters touched down.

Damari’s mother Mandy, a dual Israeli-U.K. national, shortly after her daughter’s return thanked “everyone who never stopped fighting for Emily throughout this horrendous ordeal, and who never stopped saying her name. In Israel, Britain, the United States and around the world.

“While Emily’s nightmare in Gaza is over, for too many other families the impossible wait continues. Every last hostage must be released, and humanitarian aid must be provided to the hostages who are still waiting to come home.”

Israel has said that 25 of the 33 people on the list of hostages to be returned in the first stage of the ceasefire deal are still alive. Ninety-four hostages are still being held in Gaza, at least one-third of whom are believed to be dead.

Emily Damari (28), Doron Steinbrecher (31) and Romi Gonen (24) have begun their journey back to life at Sheba Medical Center following 471 days in Hamas captivity. Medical teams, having spent months preparing for the hostages' return, prioritized the family reunions while establishing the foundation for an intricate medical and psychological rehabilitation process.

Following the hostages' return yesterday, Hospital Director Dr. Yael Frankel Nir announced: "I am deeply moved to report that we have received the three hostages. Their medical condition allows us to focus on family reunification. We will proceed with examinations in the coming days. We had the privilege of meeting them ... and we continue this journey until the last hostage returns."

Dr. Sefi Mendlovich, Deputy Director General of the Israeli Health Ministry, stated: "Today we welcome Emily, Doron, and Romi after 471 days in Hamas captivity. This represents an unimaginable reality. We, as medical authorities within the healthcare system, stand fully prepared to address all medical conditions."

Immediate priority: Nutrition

The primary medical concern currently centers on refeeding syndrome. Following 15 months of malnutrition, sudden food reintroduction risks dangerous disruptions to the body's fluid and electrolyte balance. Previous hostage exchanges revealed weight losses of between 10% to 17% of body mass, translating to 17-33 pounds. Given the three women's extended period in captivity, the medical team anticipates even more complex challenges.

Consequently, they must undergo extensive medical evaluation. The established medical protocol encompasses comprehensive testing: infectious disease screening, thorough nutritional assessment including vitamin levels, potassium, zinc and vitamin B12, pregnancy testing for women of reproductive age, blood clot screening—a condition previously observed in hostages due to prolonged immobility—and detailed examinations of neurological, respiratory and cardiac function.

Systematic readiness

Six hospitals nationwide are prepared for hostage reception—four in central Israel and two near the border with Gaza. Health Ministry guidelines recommend a minimum four-day hospitalization, allowing for necessary testing and gradual adjustment.

A multidisciplinary expert team was assembled to conduct the hostage examinations. The hospital deploys specialists across various fields: ophthalmologists assessing vision after extended darkness exposure, gynecologists performing comprehensive examinations, geriatric specialists evaluating prolonged immobility effects, dentists addressing captivity-related dental issues and mental health professionals providing immediate and long-term psychological support.

Specialized psychological care

"We face both emotional and medical complexities," emphasized Dr. Frankel-Nir. "The care system we've developed is based on past experiences and insights from previous events." The mental health team is focused on giving the returnees and their families privacy and peace, making sure they're not overwhelmed by outside stresses or too many visitors.

The care system extends beyond hospital discharge, continuing into community care. "We've developed a comprehensive ongoing care program," Dr. Mendlovich explained. "Our aim is facilitating smooth transitions from hospitalization to daily life while maintaining thorough medical and psychological monitoring."

'Part of them is still in the tunnel'

Professor Hagai Levine, head of Health Services at the Hostages' Families and Missing Forum, told Israel Hayom on Monday morning that recovery for the released hostages began the moment they were released, but will be a lifelong journey.

"Mentally, part of them is still in that tunnel," he explained. "They spent so long with their fellow hostages that they feel guilty about doing anything enjoyable—even though they should be able to. This sense of guilt toward those still in captivity is holding back their recovery."

Professor Levine noted that this extends to the families of those who've returned—they remain deeply involved in fighting for the release of those still held captive, driven by the same sense of obligation. "Even Israeli society as a whole can't fully move forward—and understandably so—while people are still focused on bringing everyone home."

Both the hostages' physical and mental health will need to be addressed, said Levine.

"Physically, we check for various medical conditions—in past cases, we've found blood clots in leg veins, hormone imbalances and malnutrition. We screen for vitamin and mineral deficiencies, weight loss and skin problems. Some patients need physical therapy. On the psychological side, there's a long road ahead—rebuilding trust and helping them regain a sense of control over their lives."

After suffering such trauma, a significant social adjustment will be required for the hostages to reintegrate back into their former lives, he explained.

"They need to relearn how to navigate everyday interactions and eventually return to work. It's a complex, long-term recovery process that affects both the released hostages and their families. But full recovery is particularly challenging while others remain in captivity—they find it impossible to focus entirely on their own healing while knowing others are still held hostage."

Originally published by Israel Hayom.

Crowds of cheering Palestinians late overnight Sunday greeted 90 terrorists in Beitunia in Judea after they were released by Israel as part of the first phase of the ceasefire deal with Hamas, AFP reported.

Earlier on Sunday, three Israeli female hostages were released from the Gaza Strip after 472 days in captivity and were escorted by the Israel Defense Forces to reunite with their families.

The Israel Prison Service said in a statement just before 1:30 a.m. that “All the terrorists were released from Ofer prison and the Jerusalem detention center.”

AFP reported that members of the crowd climbed on the lead bus and unfurled a Palestinian flag, later being joined by others who waved the flags of the Fatah and Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorist factions.

The IDF’s Arabic-language spokesperson Lt. Col. Avichay Adraee issued a warning on X against participation in riots or armed marches supporting terrorism.

“Anyone who participates in such terrorist acts exposes himself to danger,” Adraee said in Arabic.

Samaria Regional Council head Yossi Dagan harshly criticized the ceasefire agreement, expressing his concerns over the consequences of releasing Palestinian terrorists to Judea and Samaria.

“Releasing terrorists into Judea and Samaria is a clear danger to the country! This is a dramatic and negative change on the ground,” Dagan was quoted as saying by Israel National News.

“Sadly, we are now witnessing celebrations of terror supporters in Judea and Samaria and around the world,” he went on to say.

Dagan stressed that “Every Jewish heart and every normal person in the world is moved to tears seeing the hostages returning to their families.”

But, he added, “The wholesale release of terrorists into Judea and Samaria is a clear danger to the country. It doesn’t just endanger the residents of Judea and Samaria; it clearly endangers all citizens of Israel, especially the ‘Judea and Samaria envelope’—from Tel Aviv through Netanya, Hadera to Jerusalem. The Israeli government made a terrible and difficult decision.”

Israel’s Supreme Court, sitting as the High Court of Justice, on Sunday morning rejected a petition filed by terror victims that sought to block the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners as part of a ceasefire agreement with Hamas.

“It is not our place or custom to intervene in matters of this type in which the scope of judicial review is extremely narrow,” the justices stated in their ruling.

Israel’s cabinet minister in charge of Jerusalem affairs on Sunday asked Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to increase security in the city ahead of the release of hundreds of Palestinian hostages in exchange for Israeli hostages in Gaza.

Minister of Jerusalem Affairs and Jewish Heritage Meir Porush made the appeal in a letter he sent to Netanyahu and other members of the cabinet, Israel National News reported.

“The regular deployment is insufficient,” Porush wrote, according to the report. "We must ensure that there is an adequate security response to the new challenge that has arisen. This is about the security of millions of residents and visitors."

"The release of terrorists living in eastern Jerusalem increases dramatically the security challenges throughout the city, in the absence of any buffer between their place of residence and millions of residents and visitors to all parts of the city," the letter read.

Israel has committed to releasing 734 Palestinian prisoners and 1,167 detainees over the next six weeks in exchange for 33 hostages. Ninety prisoners were released on Sunday in exchange for three Israeli hostages. Many of the prisoners arrived in Beitunia, a Palestinian city situated about seven miles north of Jerusalem and just 12 miles from the city’s center.

Many of the prisoners are to be deported, but some who resided in Jerusalem before their detention will be allowed to return there. One of the detainees from Jerusalem who will not be deported is Rada Abeid, 19, who belongs to the Fatah movement. He was convicted of an aggravated assault of a police officer, according to official documents.

Another is Rami Salah al-Din, 25, who was arrested in 2021 and convicted for arson, carrying unlicensed weapons and aggravated assault of a police officer.

Porush also asked for an urgent discussion by the Ministerial Committee on National Security Affairs, or Security Cabinet, about the security situation in Jerusalem.

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on Sunday hailed Israel's ceasefire agreement with the Hamas terrorist organization as a "first step toward lasting peace in the Middle East."

Speaking at a rally just hours before being inaugurated as the 47th president of the United States, Trump called the agreement "epic."

"This week, we achieved an epic ceasefire agreement as a first step toward lasting peace in the Middle East. And this agreement could only have happened as a result of our historic victory in November," he told attendees at the Capitol One Arena in Washington, D.C. "I'm glad to report that the first hostages have just been released," he added.

"Our incoming administration has achieved all of this in the Middle East in less than three months without being president. We've achieved more without being president than they've achieved in four years with being president," he continued, thanking incoming Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff.

"He's an amazing guy. I said: I got to get myself a negotiator. We have to get a good negotiator. A lot of guys are knowledgeable, but they can't negotiate. They don't have the personality or whatever," said Trump. "And Steve does, and Steve's a great negotiator, very successful guy, but he's our new special envoy to the Middle East for helping reach this great breakthrough, and really couldn't have been done without Steve."

The Jewish state signaled its support for the deal—which calls for the release of thousands of terrorists and an Israel Defense Forces withdrawal from strategic areas—after being pressured by Witkoff, according to widespread Hebrew media reports earlier this month.

Released Israeli hostages Emily Damari, Doron Steinbrecher and Romi Gonen were reunited with their families at Sheba Tel Hashomer Medical Center in Ramat Gan on Sunday night after 471 days in Hamas captivity.

The three women were the first of the 33 captives expected to be freed during the first phase of the ceasefire agreement with Hamas that went into effect earlier in the day. They were handed over to Israeli forces by a team of the International Committee of the Red Cross in Gaza.

Earlier on Sunday, Trump welcomed the imminent release of the first three "wonderful young women" under the Gaza ceasefire agreement.

Over the weekend, the president-elect warned in an interview with NBC that the truce with Hamas "better hold," or "all hell will break out."

Trump said he had told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: "Just keep doing what you have to do. You have to have—this has to end. We want it to end, but to keep doing what has to be done."

Trump, who will be sworn in as president at noon Eastern Time on Monday, said he would meet with the Israeli leader "fairly shortly."

The next group of Israeli hostages is set to be released by Hamas on Saturday, a senior official inside the terror group told AFP on Sunday.

Jerusalem has said that 25 of the 33 people on the list of hostages to be returned in the first stage of the deal are still alive. Ninety-four hostages are still held in Gaza, at least one-third of whom are believed to be dead.

Released hostages Emily Damari, Doron Steinbrecher and Romi Gonen were reunited with their families at Sheba Tel Hashomer Medical Center in Ramat Gan on Sunday night after 471 in Hamas captivity in the Gaza Strip.

The three women were the first of the 33 captives expected to be freed during the first phase of the ceasefire agreement with Hamas that went into effect earlier in the day. The women were handed over to the Israel Defense Forces by representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross inside the Gaza Strip.

A Hamas propaganda clip released after the women left the terrorist group's control showed them being forced to accept bags of "mementos" from their time in captivity, including a Hamas "certificate of appreciation," as hundreds of Gaza civilians looked on.

Following an initial medical examination at the reception point near the Gaza border and their subsequent transfer to hospital via helicopter, Tel Hashomer General Hospital Director Dr. Yael Frenkel Nir told local media that the women's physical condition was good enough to allow them to focus on reuniting with family members.

The condition of the released hostages "allows us to focus on the important thing, which is reuniting with their families, and to postpone delving into medical issues for a few hours," she stated. She added, "We are closely accompanying them and their families."

Hundreds of exhilarated Israelis were awaiting the return of the three hostages outside the hospital as the helicopters touched down.

Damari's mother Mandy, a dual Israeli-U.K. national, shortly after her daughter's return thanked "everyone who never stopped fighting for Emily throughout this horrendous ordeal, and who never stopped saying her name. In Israel, Britain, the United States and around the world.

"While Emily's nightmare in Gaza is over, for too many other families the impossible wait continues. Every last hostage must be released, and humanitarian aid must be provided to the hostages who are still waiting to come home."

Steinbrecher's family shared a statement expressing "gratitude to everyone who supported and accompanied us along this journey."

The statement went on to extend "a special thank you to the people of Israel for their warm embrace, unwavering support and the strength they gave us during our darkest moments. We also extend our gratitude to President [Donald] Trump for his significant involvement and support."

Gonen recorded a voice message for residents of her hometown of Kfar Vradim in northern Israel, telling them, "With God's help, we will meet soon."

"This is Romi, who returned from captivity. Thank you to all of you," she stated. “I don't yet have a clue what you have done. I've seen a tiny, tiny part, but you're the best. I appreciate you more than anything, and I am sending you hugs and kisses."

Gonen, 24, was kidnapped from the Nova music festival after being shot on the morning of Oct. 7, 2023, while Steinbrecher, 31, and Damari, 28, were taken from their homes in Kibbutz Kfar Aza. Steinbrecher is a dual Israeli-Romanian citizen, while Damari also holds British citizenship.

Israel has said that 25 of the 33 people on the list of hostages to be returned in the first stage of the renewed ceasefire deal are still alive. Ninety-four hostages are still being held in Gaza, at least one-third of whom are believed to be dead.

The next group of hostages is set to be released on Saturday, a senior Hamas official told AFP on Sunday.

Arab Knesset member Ayman Odeh on Sunday welcomed the release of both Israeli hostages and Palestinian terrorists, prompting rebuke from across the political spectrum.

"Happy about the release of the hostages and prisoners. From here we must free both peoples from the yoke of occupation. We were all born free," wrote Odeh, leader of Hadash, a far-left Arab-Jewish party that is part of the Hadah-Ta'al faction in the Knesset.

Odeh wrote this minutes after the return to Israel of Romi Gonen (24), Emily Damari (28) and Doron Steinbrecher (31), who were abducted by Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023, along with 251 others. The terrorist group is still holding 94 captives.

During the first phase of a ceasefire agreement that went into effect on Sunday, Israel has agreed to release nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, including terrorists with blood on their hands, in exchange for 33 hostages, not all of whom are believed to be alive.

The remaining hostages are to be returned in the second phase, according to a schedule that has not yet been negotiated.

"At this time, when the entire Israeli people—supporters and opponents of the deal—are crying out with excitement over the return of Romi, Emily and Doron, terrorist supporter Ayman Odeh is comparing vile murderers to our kidnapped daughters," tweeted Otzma Yehudit Party MK Yitzhak Wasserlauf, Israel’s minister for the development of the periphery, the Negev and the Galilee.

"On Tuesday, when I return to the Knesset, I will work to get Knesset members to sign a petition to oust Odeh. He should be thrown out of the Knesset immediately!" he added.

Among Israel's numerous supporters in Washington, certain figures have distinguished themselves through exceptional dedication to the Jewish state's cause. Sen. Lindsey Graham, the veteran Republican from South Carolina, is one such figure.

During our Thursday afternoon conversation in his office, his staff was shepherding through the Senate a heartfelt farewell resolution for departing Israeli Ambassador Mike Herzog. The unanimous support from all 100 senators underscored the senators' deep respect for Herzog. Graham's selection to deliver remarks at the ambassador's farewell ceremony hours later highlighted the senator's remarkable dedication to Israel. His steadfast support for Israel, recognized across party lines, has positioned him as a unique mediator between Israel and Saudi Arabia on behalf of the United States, both before and during the current conflict.

Throughout his frequent wartime visits to Israel, and again in his Senate office last weekend, Graham emphasized a consistent message: "The greatest threat to Iran was the normalization between Israel and Arab states. The attitude of Saudi and [United Arab Emirates] leadership toward Israel represents the most significant transformation I've witnessed in my lifetime. Don't let this opportunity slip away. I believe Oct. 7 was designed to derail this process, because we were so close to a breakthrough. I refuse to let those bastards in Iran succeed. The key is to always do what your enemy despises most."

In practical terms, Graham advocates for Israel to consider allowing a moderate Arab state to assume control of the Gaza Strip. "MBS and MBZ [Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed] want Hamas gone at least as much as you do. I can state this with absolute certainty. However, it remains Israel's sovereign decision whether to accept a Palestinian component or to maintain that a Palestinian state poses an unacceptable security risk and therefore must be opposed."

In response to a question about what course Trump should take regarding Iran, Graham was unequivocal.

"While I don't speak for the administration, I believe we face an unprecedented opportunity to diminish Iran's power in a way I've never witnessed before," he said. "Israel and Trump's America must act decisively to eliminate Iran's nuclear facilities permanently."

When asked if the United States would have accepted the terms of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire (that went into effect on Sunday), Graham thoughtfully responded: "That's a good question. I understand the concerns about freed terrorists returning to combat against Israel, but their operational capacity is now severely limited, and Israel retains the option to resume operations at any moment. The ceasefire isn't intended to provide Hamas with a rehabilitation period. That simply won't be permitted to happen. However, I prioritize getting the hostages out, and in the Middle East, I see no alternative to this cycle of releasing perpetrators. It's 'Sophie's Choice.'"

Graham, who is advancing legislation to constrain the International Criminal Court in The Hague, stated: "In my assessment, Israel's greatest threat isn't Iran but rather its potential isolation by international institutions."

This threat, he continued, is more serious than that posed by Iran's nuclear program.

"I believe Israel's biggest threat isn't Iran's nuclear program, but rather its systematic marginalization by international bodies. BDS, the persecution of IDF personnel, and economic isolation—these are all serious concerns. Consequently, the ICC issue holds historic significance for the Jewish state. Moreover, it threatens American interests as we're next in their sights. Neither of our nations belongs to this court, yet they presume to issue arrest warrants against us.

"That's why next week we're introducing bipartisan legislation that will prohibit countries cooperating with the court from engaging in business with America. This will fundamentally alter the existing paradigm, and I'm unmoved by whatever international pressure may come my way."

Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir on Sunday night called for the remaining hostages being held by Hamas in Gaza to be freed via military pressure.

Responding to the return to Israel on Sunday evening of Romi Gonen, Doron Steinbrecher and Emily Damari from Hamas captivity, Ben-Gvir tweeted, “We are happy and excited about your return and await the return of the remaining hostages—through the use of [military] force, cutting off fuel [to Gaza] and stopping the flow of humanitarian aid [to Hamas]—not through surrender.”

Ben-Gvir’s Otzma Yehudit Party formally resigned from the government on Sunday morning, a day after Jerusalem approved the ceasefire deal with the Hamas terrorist group.

Flanked by members of his party, Ben-Gvir said on Thursday that the deal means “the end of the war before Hamas is beaten,” adding that he had pleaded with the prime minister in a private meeting to jettison the deal, which he said gives a “prize to terror.”

Calling it a “reckless deal,” the Otzma Yehudit leader said the agreement will set free hundreds of murderous terrorists, pull the Israel Defense Forces from the Egypt-Gaza border and return thousands of terrorists to the northern Gaza Strip.

“The deal will, in fact, erase the achievements of the war,” he said.

Otzma Yehudit controls six seats in the Knesset.