Who are the three Israeli hostages who were released?

A young woman described as being “at her happiest when she is dancing” is believed to be among the three Israeli women released after 471 days of being held hostage by Hamas.

Romy Gonen, 24, was arrested while trying to escape the Nova Music Festival when it was targeted by the armed group as part of the October 7, 2023, attack.

She is believed to have been released alongside Doron Steinbrecher, 31, a veterinary nurse, and Emily Damari, 28, who holds dual British-Israeli citizenship.

It was confirmed on Sunday afternoon that Hamas in Gaza had handed over three hostages to the Red Cross.

Their release forms part of the first phase of the ceasefire and hostage release agreement between Israel and Hamas, which began on Sunday. A total of 33 hostages are scheduled to be released over the next six weeks.

The delay in Israel obtaining all the names, which Hamas blamed on “field technical reasons,” delayed the ceasefire by about three hours.

Romi had traveled from her home in Kfar Verdim in northern Israel to attend the Nova Festival, which was held in the Negev Desert in the south.

More than 360 people were killed at the festival when Hamas fighters crossed the border 2 kilometers (1.3 miles) to the west. The desert landscape provided partygoers with limited cover and exit routes were blocked by gunmen.

When sirens sounded as the attack occurred, Romy called her family. Her mother, Merav, recalled hearing gunshots and screaming in Arabic during the last call to her daughter.

Romi was ambushed by Hamas fighters while she was trying to escape.

In June, her mother addressed the UN Human Rights Council to request international assistance to release the hostages.

The Hostage and Missing Families Forum said she went to the festival “to do what she loves, to dance” – something she studied for 12 years, starring in solo shows and becoming an “amazing choreographer”.

A video posted by the Families Forum last November described her as “the girl with the biggest smile, the brightest light, and the greatest friend.”

The forum also said that Romi’s bedroom in her home “is still exactly as it was when she left”, awaiting her return.

Doron, a 31-year-old veterinary nurse, was kidnapped from her apartment in Kibbutz Kfar Azza – near the northwestern border of the Gaza Strip – when Hamas launched an attack.

This community, one of several Israeli villages along the border, was heavily targeted by militants during the October 7 attacks.

Israeli officials said Hamas burned homes and killed civilians, including entire families, as well as taking hostages.

The Forum for Hostages and Missing Families said that when the attack began, Doron called her family and friends via WhatsApp to say that she had been hiding under the bed as the gunmen advanced.

In her final audio message, she was heard screaming, “They arrested me,” while screaming and gunfire were heard in the background.

Doron’s family has not received any information about her whereabouts for nearly four months.

In May last year, her sister, Yamit Ashkenazi, wrote an emotional message on the Missing Families Forum, calling her “my sunshine.”

“I hope you feel the energy we are sending you,” the message read.

In a previous post, Doron was described as “the glue that holds together all her friends, sensitive and funny, always smiling and the first to help.”

She studied theater and film at school, and her love of animals grew which led to her becoming a veterinary nurse.

Speaking to the BBC in November 2023, Doron’s sister, Yamit, spoke about a new tattoo. It read: “Like the sun we will rise again,” but some of the sun’s rays are missing.

“They will be added when she gets home,” she added.

Emily, a 28-year-old British-Israeli national, was also taken hostage from Kibbutz Kfar Azza on October 7, 2023.

She was shot in the hand and transported to Gaza from her home during the attack. She also witnessed her dog being shot dead.

Her mother, Mandy Damari, was also present at the kibbutz in her separate home on October 7. Ms. Al-Damari hid in the safe room and was saved by a bullet that hit the door handle, making it impossible for the attackers to enter.

As the assault occurred, Emily sent her mother a text message containing a single heart emoji, and this was their last contact.

In December, Ms Al-Damari told the BBC how concerned she was about the conditions her daughter faced. Sunday was the first time they had received information about Emily since March.

When news of her release arrived… A source close to her family said That it had been “471 torturous days but it was 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.

Ms Damari was born and raised in the UK, and met her husband on holiday in Israel when she was 20 years old.

The youngest of four children, Emily has strong ties to the UK – she is a Tottenham Hotspur fan and would often visit to see her relatives, attend concerts, go shopping and visit the pub here.

Ms 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’s a special person,” she added.