Hamas released four more hostages on Saturday, Jan. 25, and one of them is a friend of Lauren Robbins, a student at the University of Florida. “I’m so glad you’re okay and home,” shared UF student, Lauren Robbins.
The group is set to release the more than 90 hostages over the coming weeks as part of the ceasefire deal with Israel.
Romi Gonen, Emily Damari and Doron Steinbrecher were the first three hostages released from Gaza on Sunday morning. They arrived in Israel, the military announced, hours after the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas took hold.
Follow NBC News' live coverage as Israel and Hamas agree to a ceasefire deal to halt the Gaza war and release hostages, while Biden and Trump react.
Tens of thousands of Palestinians waited to return to their homes in northern Gaza, voicing frustration after Israel refused to open crossing points.
During the first phase of the truce, meant to last six weeks, Hamas will free 33 of the 98 Israeli hostages still in Gaza, in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. Further talks will be held to finalise the next stage of Israel’s withdrawal and the release of the remaining hostages.
Blinken’s remark comes after Israel has killed at least 45,000 Palestinians in Gaza, per the most conservative count.
Emily Damari was one of the 251 people that Hamas and other Palestinian militant groups abducted from Israel to the Gaza Strip during their attack on October 7. She was 27 at the time but has since turned 28.
The sources said that while Hamas has successfully recruited new members, many are young and untrained and are being used for simple security purposes.
A video of Shiri Bibas and her two young children being kidnapped on October 7 made headlines around the world. Hamas says they've been killed, but many Israeli's don't believe them, and the tragic mystery will likely soon be solved.
BRAVE British hostage Emily Damari has spoken out for the first time since she was released by Hamas. The 28-year-old said she is “the happiest person in the world” in the first Instagram