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 Gonen
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”.
When sirens sounded as the Hamas attack unfolded, Romi called her family. Her mother, Meirav, recalled hearing shots and shouting in Arabic in the final call with her daughter.
Romi was ambushed by Hamas militants as she tried to flee the festival.
A video posted by the families’ forum last November described her as “the girl with the biggest smile, the brightest light, the greatest friend”.
Doron Steinbrecher
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”.
“I wish you could feel the energy we send to you,” it read.
“I wish you were aware of, at least, some of the battle we are fighting here for your release. I wish you could feel it all. Loving you, longing 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 theatre and film in school, and developed a love for animals that led to her becoming a veterinary nurse.
Speaking to the BBC in November 2023, Doron’s sister Yamit spoke of a new tattoo. It read: “As the sun we will rise again”, but had some of the sun’s rays missing.
“They will be added when she is home,” she added.
Emily Damari
[PA Media]
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 that 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.
Emily has strong connections with the UK – she is a Tottenham Hotspur fan and would often visit to see relatives, attend concerts, go shopping and visit the pub here.
Her mother, Mandy Damari, previously told the BBC that Emily is “the core of our family and the core is missing”.
“I love her to the moon and back, she is a special person,” she added.
