Israel National News: Romi Gonen, Emily Damari, and Doron Steinbrecher are the three hostages who will be released this afternoon after more than 470 days in captivity in Gaza.

Romi Gonen, 24, from Kfar Vradim, was abducted from the Novas music festival. At 10:15 a.m. on October 7, 2024, she told her mother, Merav Leshem-Gonen, on the phone that she had been shot. Her family confirmed earlier today that she will be among the hostages who are released today.

Emily Damari, 28, from Kfar Gaza, is a British citizen. Her mother, Mandy, expressed deep concern in an interview with the BBC last month that her daughter was no longer alive. “I am desperate for a sign of life,” she said.

Doron Steinbracher, 31, from Kfar Aaza, worked as a veterinary nurse when she was kidnapped from her home on October 7. She was among the three hostagess who appeared in a video released by Hamas on January 26.

The hostage release is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. this afternoon.

Hamas is expected to hand over the three female hostages to the Red Cross, who will then hand them over to IDF special forces inside the Gaza Strip. 

From there, the hostages will be taken to one of three army facilities established near the border -- one near Re'im, one near Kerem Shalom, and one near Erez -- for an initial checkup, and then to a hospital to meet with their families.

The military believes the three hostages will be released today from central Gaza, meaning they will be taken to the Re'im facility, though nothing is certain.

The IDF has closed off routes in the Gaza border area this morning to protect the hostages' privacy during the release.

A small number of hostages will be released every week over the course of the first phase of the ceasefire, which will last six weeks. 33 hostages are expected to be released in total during the first phase, out of 98 hostages who are still being held in Gaza.

Source: INN   PHOTO: Use according to Section 27 A