Tearful reunions

MARY REICHARD, HOST: It’s Monday the 4th of February.

This is WORLD Radio and we thank you for listening. Good morning, I’m Mary Reichard.

NICK EICHER, HOST: And I’m Nick Eicher.

First up on The World and Everything in It, long awaited reunions.

The ceasefire between Israel and Hamas has now been in place for more than two weeks. Just this past weekend Hamas released three more of the Oct 7th hostages, bringing the total number to 18. Here’s WORLD Reporter Travis Kircher.

TRAVIS KIRCHER: On October 7th 2023, members of the terror group Hamas crossed the Israel/Gaza border and slaughtered 1,200 people, taking another 250 hostage. Since then, Israeli military spokesman Daniel Hagari says the IDF has been focused on one thing:

HAGARI: Our mission has been clear: bring home all the hostages held by Hamas in Gaza.

When the temporary ceasefire was declared on January 19th, that mission came a step closer to being reality. Three steps, actually.

HAGARI: Today, as part of these ongoing efforts, we welcomed home three hostages – three young women – after 471 days in Hamas captivity.

Those women—24-year-old Romi Gonen, 28-year-old Emily Damari, and 31-year-old Doron Steinbrecher—were the first to be freed under the ceasefire.

SOUND: [Helicopter landing]

Hamas militants released them into the custody of the Red Cross, and the three were flown by helicopter to a hospital near Tel Aviv. Supporters celebrated outside as the chopper landed.

SOUND: [Supporters outside hospital]

Inside the hospital, the three women were reunited with their loved ones. Audio here of Romi Gonen hugging her mother for the first time in more than 15 months.

SOUND: [Romi Gonen reunites with mom]

As she weeps, Gonen can be heard saying in Hebrew, “I made it home alive, Dad. I made it home alive.”

All three of the women were in stable condition. Damari’s mother spoke with reporters:

DAMARI: I’m delighted to be able to tell you that Emily is in high spirits and on the road to recovery.

Less than a week later, on Saturday, January 25^th:

SOUND: [Liri Albag reunites with family]

19-year-old Liri Albag was reunited with her family. Albag is one of four additional female hostages released by Hamas. The others include Karina Ariev, Daniella Gilboa, and Naama Levy, all 20 years old.

But last Thursday, when the third group of hostages was released, the ceasefire briefly hit a snag.

SOUND: [Chaotic crowds outside hostage release]

Hamas released eight hostages—three Israelis and five Thai nationals. The Israelis included 29-year-old Arbel Yehoud, 19-year-old Agam Berger, and 80-year-old Gadi Moshe. The hostages were shoved by armed and masked Hamas militants through a crowd of thousands of shouting Palestinians.

NETANYAHU: [Speaking in Hebrew]

Speaking here, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the display, calling it shocking and warning that anyone who harms the hostages risks his own blood. Netanyahu briefly threatened to withhold the release of additional Palestinian prisoners, but those releases continued.

The freed Thai hostages are said to be in fair condition. Here’s a Thai government spokesman:

BALANKURA: Although they look to be in good health, they seem to be in good health, they have been in captivity for 15 months so it really depends on their physical condition.

Meanwhile…

SOUND: [Crowds cheer released Palestinian prisoners]

While Hamas releases its hostages a few at a time, Israel frees hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. A crowd surrounded a Red Cross bus in the West Bank Saturday as it delivered more than two dozen freed prisoners, one of whom was Osama Asida.

ASIDA: [Speaking in Arabic]

Speaking here, Asida says it’s indescribable to be back with his friends and family, as well as the Palestinian people. He goes on to say he’s praying for the rest of his fellow prisoners to be freed.

Back in Israel, as more hostages are released, the family members of those still in captivity hope that their loved ones might be next.

SIEGEL: We don’t know anything—nothing—about Keith …

That’s Aviva Siegel. WORLD listeners may recall that we spoke with her back in November about her husband, Israeli American Keith Siegel. Keith and Aviva were kidnapped by Hamas from their home on the Kfar Aza kibbutz during the October 7th attacks. Aviva was released 51 days later during the brief ceasefire in November of 2023. When she last saw her husband, he was unresponsive. She told WORLD late last year that she yearned to have her husband home.

SIEGEL: And we just can’t wait—can’t wait—to give him a hug, and to put him into a clean bed after a shower with a good meal, with a good cup of water. I can’t wait, I’m telling you. I just can’t wait, I can’t wait.

On Saturday, that wait came to an end as Aviva watched video footage of her husband Keith—gaunt but alive—being marched to a Red Cross vehicle for release.

SOUND: [Aviva reacts]

Later on Saturday, Keith finally reunited with his wife Aviva as well as his children including his three daughters.

SOUND: [Keith’s daughters cheer]

Also released were 54-year-old French Israeli Ofer Kalderon and 35-year-old Yarden Bibas. After meeting with his family, Kalderon waved to well-wishers outside.

SOUND: [Friends of Ofer Kalderon cheer him on]

But Bibas’s reunion was more subdued.

SOUND: [Bibas reunion]

Bibas hugs his father and sister, but many of his family are missing. His wife Shiri was also kidnapped by Hamas, as were his two children, 2-year-old Kfir and 5-year-old Ariel—the youngest hostages taken on October 7th. They remain unaccounted for.

Today is Day 16 of the ongoing, fragile ceasefire. Thus far, 18 hostages have been freed, with Hamas expected to release a total of 33 by the end of Phase One of the ceasefire in early March. Israel has already released nearly 600 Palestinian prisoners.

When Phase One ends, Israel and Hamas will have the option to resume fighting or negotiate an extension. Many family members are hoping both parties will opt to negotiate, paving the way for more reunions like these to continue.

SOUND: [Tearful reunion]

Reporting for WORLD, I’m Travis Kircher.

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