One of the individuals released from captivity during the initial day of the Gaza ceasefire expressed her relief and happiness on Monday, declaring that she has “returned to life.” Emily Damari, at the age of 28, was among three hostages liberated on Sunday after enduring 471 days in captivity. Medical personnel who treated them stated their health status is stable.
In an emotional Instagram post shared by Israeli media, Damari expressed gratitude toward her family and the collective movement advocating for hostages’ freedom, stating, “Thank you thank you thank you I’m the happiest in the world.” A dual citizen of Israel and the UK, she returned home with a bandage on her hand; officials revealed that she lost two fingers during Hamas’ assault on October 7, 2023. Upon her arrival at the hospital, she acknowledged a crowd that had gathered, and video footage later captured her joyous reunion with her family.
Mandy Damari, Emily’s mother, later conveyed in a statement that her daughter was “doing much better than any of us could ever have anticipated.” On Sunday, these three Israelis were released from Hamas, while numerous Palestinian prisoners also gained their freedom from Israeli jails. This exchange left both communities grappling with a mix of celebration and uncertainty as the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas came into effect.
In a separate incident, the Israeli military confirmed that one soldier was killed and another severely injured in the West Bank. Although specific details were not disclosed, local reports indicated that the soldiers’ vehicle was struck by a roadside bomb in northern West Bank overnight. The ongoing clash between Israeli forces and Palestinian militants in this region has escalated following Hamas’ significant attack from the Gaza Strip, which marked the beginning of the current war.
In a significant diplomatic movement, Turkey has reinstated its consulate in Aleppo, Syria’s largest city, marking a notable return after 12 years of closure due to security concerns arising from the Syrian civil war. The Turkish Embassy in Damascus resumed its operations recently as well. Prior to the conflict, Aleppo was a vital trading hub located not far from the Turkish border.
Yemen’s Houthi rebels have announced plans to limit their attacks in the Red Sea area specifically to ships connected to Israel, coinciding with the ceasefire currently active in Gaza. This decision, communicated to shippers through an email, indicates a temporary halt on actions against other vessels previously targeted. The Houthis had launched numerous assaults on merchant ships since the onset of hostilities between Israel and Hamas.
Bara’a Al-Fuqha, a 22-year-old medical student freed from an Israeli prison, expressed mixed emotions after being released alongside 90 other Palestinians. Despite the joy of reuniting with her family after enduring six months in detention, she voiced her concerns about the continued suffering of her compatriots, stating, “My joy is limited, because so many among us Palestinians are being tortured and abused.” Her reflections resonated within the gathered crowd, who acknowledged that while the release offered temporary joy, it was overshadowed by the ongoing violence and turmoil in Gaza.
United Nations officials reported that over 630 trucks of humanitarian aid successfully entered the besieged Gaza Strip following the commencement of the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas. According to Tom Fletcher, the UN under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs, an estimated 300 trucks were dedicated to delivering essential assistance to northern Gaza. The ceasefire has stipulated the entry of 600 aid trucks daily for an initial duration of six weeks, while there are provisions for releasing 33 Israeli hostages in exchange for numerous Palestinian detainees.
However, the highly anticipated release of Palestinian prisoners faced delays as Hamas cited complications over the names provided for those set to be freed. Following the initial release of three Israeli hostages, Palestinian crowds gathered, eagerly awaiting news of the 90 individuals expected to be liberated from Israel’s Ofer Prison. Hamas officials expressed their ongoing communications with mediators to resolve the issues surrounding the list.
Amid these developments, the Israeli military reportedly fired projectiles and repositioned journalists waiting to get coverage of the anticipated release of Palestinian prisoners. As of now, spectators eagerly await updates on the 90 prisoners being released in the West Bank, as authorities continue to navigate this complex situation.
