{"id":41513,"date":"2025-01-20T18:38:00","date_gmt":"2025-01-20T23:38:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/world\/tears-of-joy-as-3-released-hostages-dive-into-their-mothers-arms-after-15-months-in-captivity\/20\/01\/2025\/"},"modified":"2025-01-20T18:38:00","modified_gmt":"2025-01-20T23:38:00","slug":"tears-of-joy-as-3-released-hostages-dive-into-their-mothers-arms-after-15-months-in-captivity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/world\/tears-of-joy-as-3-released-hostages-dive-into-their-mothers-arms-after-15-months-in-captivity\/20\/01\/2025\/","title":{"rendered":"Tears of joy as 3 released hostages dive into their mothers&#8217; arms after 15 months in captivity"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>\n<\/p>\n<div data-article-body=\"true\">\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">JERUSALEM \u2014Three women \u2014 a soccer fan, a dancer and a veterinary nurse \u2014 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/news\/world\/ceasefire-israel-hamas-gaza-hostage-release-palestinian-rcna188248\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:returned to Israel on Sunday;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">returned to Israel on Sunday<\/a>, amid cheers and tears of joy after 15 months in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/video\/first-three-hostages-released-by-hamas-as-part-of-ceasefire-229712965660\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:captivity in the Gaza Strip;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">captivity in the Gaza Strip<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">They were greeted by their families who had advocated for their release at home and abroad.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"mb-4 text-xl font-bold md:text-2xl\"><strong>Emily Damari<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cI\u2019ve returned to my beloved life,\u201d former hostage Emily Damari, 28, posted on social media after her release.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">During <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/news\/world\/israel-says-palestinian-militants-are-infiltrating-gaza-rcna119315\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Hamas\u2019 cross-border terrorist attack Oct. 7, 2023;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Hamas\u2019 cross-border terrorist attack Oct. 7, 2023<\/a>, Damari was seized from her home in kibbutz Kfar Aza and driven into Gaza in her own car, losing two fingers from a gunshot fired by a militant.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">A photo and a video showing Damari holding up a bandaged hand has already become an iconic image of the hostages\u2019 resilience.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cI survived!\u201d she shouted as the picture was taken, according to video from the Israel Defense Forces.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-3 right-3 size-10 md:size-[50px] lg:inset-0 lg:size-full lg:bg-transparent\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-0 right-0 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed inset-0 z-[4] size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<p>Emily Damari hugs her mother, Mandy Damari, on Sunday.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Her mother, Mandy Damari, who had immigrated to Israel from Britain and worked as a kindergarten teacher, campaigned for her daughter\u2019s release, dreaming of the moment when she would finally be able to see her.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Mandy Damari described her daughter, who loves soccer and is a fan of London\u2019s Tottenham Hotspur.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">She is a \u201cstrong, smart and charismatic daughter whose smiling humor lights up any room she enters,\u201d she told a Knesset committee in one of her many speeches about her daughter. \u201cYesterday, I was finally able to give Emily the hug that I have been dreaming of,\u201d she wrote in an Instagram post Monday, soon after her daughter was returned from Gaza.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Emily Damari is doing better than anyone could have anticipated, her mother wrote.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cI am also happy that during her release the world was given a glimpse of her feisty and charismatic personality,\u201d Mandy Damari wrote on Instagram. \u201cIn Emily\u2019s own words, she is the happiest girl in the world; she has her life back.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"mb-4 text-xl font-bold md:text-2xl\"><strong>Romi Gonen<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The professional modern dancer and choreographer from the northern Israeli town of Kfar Vradim was kidnapped from the Nova music festival, which was stormed by militants early Oct. 7.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cIt will take me, us, a moment to breathe &#8230; and believe in the reality that we have fulfilled together,\u201d her mother, Meirav Leshem Gonen, wrote on Facebook on Sunday.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Gonen, 24, had called her parents at 7:15 a.m. the morning of the attack, telling them that there was gunfire all around her. What should she do, she asked.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">After managing to hide for hours in a bush, she got into a car with another festivalgoer but, as they tried to drive out of the area, their car was attacked and she was taken hostage.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img alt=\"Romi Gonen and mother. (Israeli Army via AP)\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"640\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/7_2yZtoL7xfV92iiRcfiKw--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTY0MA--\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/nbc_news_122\/2116f555ffcaf0cfcff456a7f9df7409\"\/><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-3 right-3 size-10 md:size-[50px] lg:inset-0 lg:size-full lg:bg-transparent\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-0 right-0 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed inset-0 z-[4] size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<p>Romi Gonen and her mother, Meirav Leshem Gonen.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Gonen had already texted her parents that she was on her way home when the car she and the others were in came under fire and she was hit.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Bleeding and afraid she was dying, she called her mother.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">In June, Meirav Gonen told the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva that her daughter was the \u201conly survivor,\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cShe was brutally dragged by her long beautiful hair from the car along the road,\u201d the mother said. \u201cI was a witness to this reality while speaking with her on the phone, hearing her helplessness and frustration without being able to help my baby.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">One of Gonen\u2019s first questions upon her release was, \u201cWhere is my mother?\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">After hugging her mother, she spoke to her father, Eitan Gonen, on the telephone.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cI came back alive,\u201d Gonen told him.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"mb-4 text-xl font-bold md:text-2xl\"><strong>Doron Steinbrecher<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">As Hamas-led fighters neared her home in kibbutz Kfar Aza in southern Israel, the 31-year-old veterinary nurse sent her mother, Simona Steinbrecher,\u00a0a text: \u201cThey are here,\u201d it said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Later, in a chilling message to her friends, she wrote, \u201cThey captured me, they captured me, they captured me.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Hamas released a video clip of Steinbrecher and two other hostages, Daniella Gilboa and Karina Ariev, last January. The trio pleaded with the Israeli government to secure their release.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img alt=\"Doron Steinbracher hugs her mother. (Israeli Army \/ AFP - Getty Images)\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"640\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/srRNX5W5VzmJZ91LLQHn3g--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTY0MA--\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/nbc_news_122\/c301ec3d58816e3a57837b4525a877ec\"\/><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-3 right-3 size-10 md:size-[50px] lg:inset-0 lg:size-full lg:bg-transparent\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-0 right-0 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed inset-0 z-[4] size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<p>Doron Steinbrecher with her mother, Simona Steinbrecher, in Israel on Sunday.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">In a recent speech at the so-called Hostage Square, her mother, Simona Steinbrecher, said that her daughter, the youngest of three children, brings so much joy and laughter into the house.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">She had imagined, the mother said, that the special bond created while her daughter was in her womb would keep her safe throughout her lifetime. It was \u201cheartbreaking,\u201d Simona Steinbrecher said, that she was not able to keep her daughter safe even though she was captured so close to home.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img alt=\"Relatives welcome Israeli hostage. (Maayan Toaf \/ GPO \/ AFP - Getty Images)\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"640\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/kLwpTrP8TJ27Zq6Hk_sJ1g--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTY0MA--\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/nbc_news_122\/8ef4e04b15f71b4ffbe1e6be11037456\"\/><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-3 right-3 size-10 md:size-[50px] lg:inset-0 lg:size-full lg:bg-transparent\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-0 right-0 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed inset-0 z-[4] size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<p>Relatives welcome Doron Steinbracher in Ramat Gan, near Tel Aviv, on Sunday.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">She added that she would have done anything to trade places with her daughter.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Shortly after her\u00a0release, Steinbrecher\u2019s family posted a message on Instagram. \u201cOur beloved Dodo has finally returned to our arms,\u201d it said. \u201cWe want to express our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who supported and accompanied us along this journey.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">This article was originally published on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/news\/world\/israel-hamas-war-ceasefire-hamas-hostages-return-gaza-rcna188421\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:NBCNews.com;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">NBCNews.com<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.yahoo.com\/news\/tears-joy-3-released-hostages-222413459.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>JERUSALEM &mdash;Three women &mdash; a soccer fan, a dancer and a veterinary nurse &mdash; returned to Israel on Sunday, amid cheers and<br \/><button class=\"read-more\"><a href=\"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/world\/tears-of-joy-as-3-released-hostages-dive-into-their-mothers-arms-after-15-months-in-captivity\/20\/01\/2025\/\">Read More &rsaquo;<\/a><\/button><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":41515,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41513"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=41513"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41513\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/41515"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=41513"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=41513"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=41513"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}