‘This is a Very Moving Day’ – Israel Welcomes Redeemed Captives

At Sheba Medical Center, “they will be checked by a special medical staff and be pampered by support personnel.”

By United with Israel Staff

Emily Damari, 28, Romi  Gonen, 24, and Doron Steinbrecher, 31, arrived back in Israel after 5 p.m. on Sunday after 471 days in captivity in Gaza.

An Israeli official said the three were assessed as being in “good” condition, Israeli media reported. They are being transferred to Sheba Medical Center, where “they will be checked by a special medical staff and be pampered by support personnel as well…from fresh new clothes…to toiletries and beauty care..to specially prepared meals. This is the warm environment that Sheba has prepared since the first hostage release.We have upgraded the open areas and rooms over time,” a hospital spokesperson said.

The three women are among a total of 33 captives set to be freed within the next 42 days, if the hostage deal and ceasefire hold.

Following is Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s conversation with Coordinator for the Hostages and the Missing Brig.-Gen. (Res.) Gal Hirsch at the moment the hostages were finally with IDF forces in the Gaza Strip, translated from Hebrew and communicated by the Government Press Office.

Netanyahu: “Gal, do you hear me?”

Hirsch: “Yes, hello Prime Minister. I am at our operations center, of the security establishment, with the Mossad, the ISA, the IDF and our entire establishment.

I would like to report to you that our hostages have been transferred to our forces and, at these very moments, are crossing the border into our territory. I am very moved.”

Netanyahu: “Have they already crossed the border into Israel?”

HIrsch: “It is happening at these very moments, right now.”

Netanyahu: “Then the moment it happens, report to me that they are in the territory of our state. This is a very moving day. These are the first hostages in this phase that we are returning home.

Gal, I would like you to tell them: Romi, Doron and Emily – an entire nation embraces you. Welcome home.

I know, we all know, they have been through hell. They are emerging from darkness into light. They are really going from slavery to freedom. This moment was achieved thanks to the sacrifice and combat of our heroic fighters – heroes of Israel.

I would also like to convey appreciation for all those who contributed to this effort. You will, of course, leave your forward command centers open until we return them all – this is one of our objectives for the war. I emphasize to you and whoever is listening to me now – we will achieve all of our objectives for the war.

The most important thing at the moment is to see to it that the Authority in the Prime Minister’s Office provides them with the entire package, with all the support that is necessary for them to settle in here at home.

This is a great moment, an emotional moment. Many congratulations.”

Hirsch: “We will embrace them and we will continue and bring them all.”

Netanyahu: “Thank you Gal, thank you; well done. Thank you.”

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