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.
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.
She is expected to be freed alongside Doron Steinbrecher, 31, a veterinary nurse, and Emily Damari, 28, who holds dual British-Israeli nationality.
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.
Romi had travelled from her home in Kfar Veradim, in the north of Israel, to the Nova festival. 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”.
Doron, a 31-year-old veterinary nurse, was abducted from her apartment in Kibbutz Kfar Aza when Hamas attacked.
In May last year, her sister, Yamit Ashkenazi, penned an emotional letter through the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, calling her “my sunshine”.
Emily, a 28-year-old who holds dual British-Israeli nationality, was also taken hostage from Kibbutz Kfar Aza during the 7 October attack.
As news of her release came on Sunday, a source close to her family said it had been a “torturous 471 days but a particularly torturous 24 hours”.
“All Emily’s mum Mandy wants to do is hug Emily. But she won’t believe it until she sees it,” the source said.
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