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A daughter described as “at her happiest when she dances” will be among the three Israeli women due to be released after 471 days hostage by Hamas.<\/p>\n
Romi Gonen, 24, was among those captured by the militant group as she tried to escape the Nova festival during the 7 October 2023 attack.<\/p>\n
She is expected to be freed alongside Doron Steinbrecher, 31, a veterinary nurse, and Emily Damari, 28, who holds dual British-Israeli nationality.<\/p>\n
Their release forms part of the first phase of the deal between Israel and Hamas – a delay in Israel getting the three names, which Hamas blamed on “technical field reasons”, pushed the ceasefire back by nearly three hours.<\/p>\n
Romi had travelled from her home in Kfar Veradim, in the north of Israel, to the Nova festival.<\/p>\n
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum, which represents her family, said she had gone “to do what she loved, to dance” – something she had studied for 12 years, starring in solo performances and becoming an “amazing choreographer”.<\/p>\n
When sirens sounded as the Hamas attack unfolded, Romi called her family. Her mother, Meirav, recalled hearing shots and shouting in Arabic in the final call with her daughter.<\/p>\n
Romi was ambushed by Hamas militants as she tried to flee the festival.<\/p>\n
A video posted by the families’ forum last November described her as “the girl with the biggest smile, the brightest light, the greatest friend”.<\/p>\n
Doron, a 31-year-old veterinary nurse, was abducted from her apartment in Kibbutz Kfar Aza when Hamas attacked.<\/p>\n
In May last year, her sister, Yamit Ashkenazi, penned an emotional letter through the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, calling her “my sunshine”.<\/p>\n
“I wish you could feel the energy we send to you,” it read.<\/p>\n
“I wish you were aware of, at least, some of the battle we are fighting here for your release. I wish you could feel it all. Loving you, longing for you, heartbroken, yet still fighting for you.”<\/p>\n
And in an earlier post, Doron was described as “the glue that connects all her friends, sensitive and funny, always smiling and the first to offer help”.<\/p>\n
She studied theatre and film in school, and developed a love for animals that led to her becoming a veterinary nurse.<\/p>\n
Speaking to the BBC in November 2023, Doron’s sister Yamit spoke of a new tattoo. It read: “As the sun we will rise again”, but had some of the sun’s rays missing.<\/p>\n
“They will be added when she is home,” she added.<\/p>\n