Who are the three Israeli hostages being released by Hamas?

The daughter, who has been described as “happiest when dancing”, will be one of three Israeli women released after being held hostage by Hamas for 471 days.

Romy Gonen, 24, was one of those captured by the terrorist group as she tried to flee the Nova festival during the October 7, 2023 attack.

She is expected to be freed along with 31-year-old veterinary nurse Doron Steinbrecher and 28-year-old Emily Damari, who holds dual British-Israeli nationality.

Their release is part of the first phase of an agreement between Israel and Hamas – a delay in Israel receiving the three names, which Hamas attributed to “technical field reasons”, pushed the ceasefire back by about three hours.

Romi had traveled for the Nova festival from his home in Kfar Veradim, in the north of Israel.

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum, which represents her family, said she “went to do what she loved, to dance” – something she had studied for 12 years, acting in solo performances. and became an “amazing choreographer”.

When the sirens went off when the Hamas attack began, Romi called her family. In her mother Mirav’s last call with her daughter, she heard sounds of gunfire and shouting in Arabic.

Romi was ambushed by Hamas militants when she tried to flee the festival.

She was described as “the girl with the biggest smile, brightest light, biggest friend” in a video posted by the families’ forum last November.

Doron, a 31-year-old veterinary nurse, was abducted from her apartment in Kibbutz Kfar Azza when Hamas attacked.

In May last year, his sister Yamit Ashkenazi wrote an emotional letter through the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, calling him “my sunshine”.

It read, “I wish you could feel the energy we send you.”

“I wish you at least knew about the battle we are fighting here for your release. I wish you could feel it all. Love you, yearn for you, heartbroken, yet Still fighting for you.”

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.”

She studied theater and film in school, and developed a love of animals which led to her becoming a veterinary nurse.

Speaking to the BBC in November 2023, Doron’s sister Yamit talked about a new tattoo. It read: “As the sun we will rise again”, but it was missing some of the sun’s rays.

“She will be added when she is at home,” he said.

Emily, 28, who holds dual British-Israeli nationality, was also taken hostage from Kibbutz Kfar Azza during the October 7 attack.

As soon as the news of his release came on Sunday. A source close to his family said That it had been “a torturous 471 days but an especially torturous 24 hours”.

The source said, “Emily’s mom Mandy just wants to hug Emily. But she won’t believe it until she sees it.”

Emily has strong ties to the UK – she is a fan of Tottenham Hotspur and often comes here to visit relatives, attend concerts, shop and go to pubs.

Her mother, Mandy Dambree, previously told the BBC that Emily was “the core of our family and the core element is missing”.

“I love him very much and back then, he’s a special person,” she said.