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‘Emotionally Drained’: Mix of Relief, Trepidation in Tel Aviv as First Three Hostages Released From Gaza
Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square on Jan. 19, 2025, as three Israeli hostages were set to be released from Hamas captivity as part of a Gaza ceasefire deal. Photo: Taken by author
A wave of relief and celebration swept through the crowd at Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square as three Israeli women were released after spending 471 days in Hamas captivity in Gaza.
The 2,000-strong crowd, composed of family members, friends, activists, and members of the general public, erupted into cheers and tears as live footage of the return of Emily Damari, Romi Gonen, and Doron Steinbrecher was broadcast.
The moment, though joyful, was mixed with pain for the ongoing torture for families of those still held captive as well as the terrible price Israel was forced to pay to free the hostages. After prolonged negotiations, Israel is set to release 1,700 terrorists — more than 1,000 of whom were arrested in Gaza after the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas-led attack, which saw 1,200 killed and 251 taken captive during the Palestinian terrorist group’s invasion of and rampage across southern Israel.
Sunday’s tranche, in which the three women were exchanged for 90 Palestinian security prisoners, is part of a 42-day ceasefire to halt fighting in Gaza in which 33 hostages are slated for release.
Israeli sources involved in the release process at Ofer Prison alleged that Red Cross representatives intentionally delayed the release of security prisoners. They claimed the postponement was aimed at ensuring the release occurred after the agreed-upon date, suggesting an effort to portray Israel in a negative light.
Onlookers at the square held up signs bearing the names and faces of those still missing, reminding the public that the crisis is far from over. Many in the crowd expressed mixed emotions — relief for the freed hostages but worry over the coming weeks and even years ahead.
Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square on Jan. 19, 2025, as three Israeli hostages were set to be released from Hamas captivity as part of a Gaza ceasefire deal. Photo: Taken by author
“I’m emotionally drained and it’s only been one day. How on earth are we going to keep this up for so long?” said Hani Nadav.
Footage of the three women being escorted by armed Hamas terrorists, their faces concealed by masks and Kalashnikov rifles in hand, stirred deep unease among viewers. The sight of roaring crowds in the background, celebrating the ceasefire, only intensified the emotional strain for those watching from afar.
“The most sickening part is we have to rely on Hamas — a bunch of rapist killers — to control those crowds because who knows what they would do to those women if they could get their hands on them?” said Nataly Spiro said. “It’s so messed up.”
Later in the evening, Hamas released a propaganda video showing its operatives giving the hostages “gift bags” prior to being released into the care of the Red Cross. The bags reportedly included photos of them in captivity, maps of Gaza, and a “release certificate.”
Clara Merman, who endured 53 days of captivity in Gaza alongside four members of her family before being released in November 2023, was also at Hostages Square. Merman shed light on the psychological tactics employed by Hamas during hostage releases, saying that the orchestrated nature of their actions was little more than a façade intended to project an image of control and benevolence.
“It was all for show, for the world to witness their apparent victory,” she said.
Merman recounted how, during their release, Hamas members assured them of protection amid chaotic crowds. “Hamas told us, ‘Don’t worry, we’re protecting you,’” she recounted.
According to Palestinian affairs analyst Khaled Abu Toameh, Hamas is leveraging the deal, which does not require it to relinquish control over the Gaza Strip, to reinstate its position as ruler over the coastal enclave in order to carry out further massacres against Israel in the future.
One man, Pinhas Cohen, said he was very opposed to the deal but nonetheless decided to come to Hostages Square — the de facto headquarters for activists who have been urging Israel to secure an agreement “at any cost” — because he felt he needed to be with “my Jewish brothers, even though I may disagree deeply with them.”
“Tonight, we celebrate. Seeing those three come back, it’s hard not to feel anything but complete joy. I hope that my fears about what will happen down the road will turn out to be completely unfounded,” Cohen said.
Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square on Jan. 19, 2025, as three Israeli hostages were set to be released from Hamas captivity as part of a Gaza ceasefire deal. Photo: Taken by author
The three women were transferred to Sheba Medical Center for evaluation, though hospital authorities said their initial assessment was positive. “Their condition allows us to concentrate on the important thing, which is reuniting with their families, and to postpone diving into medical issues for a few hours,” said Sheba Director Dr. Yael Frankel-Nir.
Footage emerging from the hospital showed the women hugging family members ecstatically. Damari was pictured with a bandaged hand with two remaining fingers. Her family said that her fingers had been shot off during the Oct. 7 attack.
The Steinbrecher family issued a statement after reuniting with their loved one.
“After an unbearable 471 days, our beloved Dodo has finally returned to our arms,” the Steinbrecher family said, referring to Doron by her nickname. The family went on to thank the people of Israel for endlessly fighting for Doron’s release, and extended thanks also to incoming US President Donald Trump “for his significant involvement and support, which meant so much to us.”
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Iran Says ‘Extremely Cautious’ on Success of Nuclear Talks with US
US President Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy-designate Steve Witkoff gives a speech at the inaugural parade inside Capital One Arena on the inauguration day of Trump’s second presidential term, in Washington, DC, Jan. 20, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Carlos Barria
Iran and the United States have agreed to continue nuclear talks next week, both sides said on Saturday, though Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi voiced “extreme cautious” about the success of the negotiations to resolve a decades-long standoff.
US President Donald Trump has signaled confidence in clinching a new pact with the Islamic Republic that would block Tehran’s path to a nuclear bomb.
Araqchi and Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff held a third round of the talks in Muscat through Omani mediators for around six hours, a week after a second round in Rome that both sides described as constructive.
“The negotiations are extremely serious and technical… there are still differences, both on major issues and on details,” Araqchi told Iranian state TV.
“There is seriousness and determination on both sides… However, our optimism about success of the talks remains extremely cautious.”
A senior US administration official described the talks as positive and productive, adding that both sides agreed to meet again in Europe “soon.”
“There is still much to do, but further progress was made on getting to a deal,” the official added.
Earlier Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi had said talks would continue next week, with another “high-level meeting” provisionally scheduled for May 3. Araqchi said Oman would announce the venue.
Ahead of the lead negotiators’ meeting, expert-level indirect talks took place in Muscat to design a framework for a potential nuclear deal.
“The presence of experts was beneficial … we will return to our capitals for further reviews to see how disagreements can be reduced,” Araqchi said.
An Iranian official, briefed about the talks, told Reuters earlier that the expert-level negotiations were “difficult, complicated and serious.”
The only aim of these talks, Araqchi said, was “to build confidence about the peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief.”
Trump, in an interview with Time magazine published on Friday, said “I think we’re going to make a deal with Iran,” but he repeated a threat of military action against Iran if diplomacy fails.
Shortly after Araqchi and Witkoff began their latest indirect talks on Saturday, Iranian state media reported a massive explosion at the country’s Shahid Rajaee port near the southern city of Bandar Abbas, killing at least four people and injuring hundreds.
MAXIMUM PRESSURE
While both Tehran and Washington have said they are set on pursuing diplomacy, they remain far apart on a dispute that has rumbled on for more than two decades.
Trump, who has restored a “maximum pressure” campaign on Tehran since February, ditched a 2015 nuclear pact between Iran and six world powers in 2018 during his first term and reimposed crippling sanctions on Iran.
Since 2019, Iran has breached the pact’s nuclear curbs including “dramatically” accelerating its enrichment of uranium to up to 60% purity, close to the roughly 90% level that is weapons grade, according to the U.N. nuclear watchdog.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said this week Iran would have to entirely stop enriching uranium under a deal, and import any enriched uranium it needed to fuel its sole functioning atomic energy plant, Bushehr.
Tehran is willing to negotiate some curbs on its nuclear work in return for the lifting of sanctions, according to Iranian officials, but ending its enrichment program or surrendering its enriched uranium stockpile are among “Iran’s red lines that could not be compromised” in the talks.
Moreover, European states have suggested to US negotiators that a comprehensive deal should include limits preventing Iran from acquiring or finalizing the capacity to put a nuclear warhead on a ballistic missile, several European diplomats said.
Tehran insists its defense capabilities like its missile program are not negotiable.
An Iranian official with knowledge of the talks said on Friday that Tehran sees its missile program as a bigger obstacle in the talks.
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Palestinian Leader Abbas Names Likely Successor in Bid to Reassure World Powers
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas attends the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, April 28, 2024. Photo: REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas named close confidant Hussein al-Sheikh as his deputy and likely successor on Saturday, the Palestine Liberation Organization said, a step widely seen as needed to assuage international doubts over Palestinian leadership.
Abbas, 89, has headed the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and the Palestinian Authority (PA) since the death of veteran leader Yasser Arafat in 2004 but he had for years resisted internal reforms including the naming of a successor.
Sheikh, born in 1960, is a veteran of Fatah, the main PLO faction which was founded by Arafat and is now headed by Abbas. He is widely viewed as a pragmatist with very close ties to Israel.
He was named PLO vice president after the organization’s executive committee approved his nomination by Abbas, the PLO said in a statement.
Reform of the PA, which exercises limited autonomy in the West Bank, has been a priority for the United States and Gulf monarchies hoping the body can play a central role in resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Pressure to reform has intensified since the start of the war in Gaza, where the PLO’s main Palestinian rival Hamas has battled Israel for more than 18 months, leaving the tiny, crowded territory in ruins.
The United States has promoted the idea of a reformed PA governing in Gaza after the war. Gulf monarchies, which are seen as the most likely source of funding for reconstruction in Gaza after the war, also want major reforms of the body.
CALL FOR HAMAS TO DISARM
Israel’s declared goal in Gaza is the destruction of Hamas but it has also ruled out giving the PA any role in government there. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said he opposes the creation of a Palestinian state.
Hamas, which follows a militant Islamist ideology, has controlled Gaza since 2007 when it defeated the PA in a brief civil war after winning an election the previous year. It also has a large presence in the West Bank.
At a meeting of the PLO’s Central Council on Wednesday and Thursday that approved the position of vice president without naming an appointee, Abbas made his clearest ever call for Hamas to completely disarm and hand its weapons – and responsibility for governing in Gaza – to the PA.
Widespread corruption, lack of progress towards an independent state and increasing Israeli military incursions in the West Bank have undermined the PA’s popularity among many Palestinians.
The body has been controlled by Fatah since it was formed in the Oslo Accords with Israel in 1993 and it last held parliamentary elections in 2005.
Sheikh, who was imprisoned by Israel for his activities opposing the occupation during the period 1978-89, has worked as the PA’s main contact liaising with the Israeli government under Abbas and been his envoy on visits to world powers.
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3rd Round of Nuclear Talks Between Iran, US Concludes in Oman
Atomic symbol and USA and Iranian flags are seen in this illustration taken, September 8, 2022. Photo: REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo
i24 News – The third round of talks between Iran and the United States over Tehran’s rapidly advancing nuclear program has concluded on Saturday, US media reported.
The two sides are understood to have discussed the US lifting of sanctions on Iran, with focuses on technical and key topics including uranium enrichment.
On April 12, the US and Iran held indirect talks in Muscat, marking the first official negotiation between the two sides since the US unilaterally withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal in May 2018 during President Donald Trump’s first term.
The second round of indirect talks took place in Rome, Italy, on April 19.
All parties, including Oman, stated that the first two rounds of talks were friendly and constructive, but Iranian media pointed out that the first two rounds were mainly framework negotiations and had not yet touched upon the core issues of disagreement.
According to media reports, one of the key issues in the expert-level negotiations will be whether Washington will allow Iran to continue uranium enrichment within the framework of its nuclear program. In response, Araghchi made it clear that Iran’s right to uranium enrichment is non-negotiable.
The US, Israel and other Western actors including the United Nation’s nuclear agency reject Iranian claims that its uranium enrichment is strictly civilian in its goals.
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