Three Israeli hostages released by Hamas reportedly received gift bags after their release on Sunday.

 

Videos show the hostages bidding farewell to Hamas fighters, smiling at the camera, and accepting the goody bags.

 

 

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Al Jazeera English (@aljazeeraenglish)

 

The three women, identified as Emily Damari (28), Romi Gonen (24), and Doron Steinbrecher (31), were handed paper bags through the window of a vehicle. The bags, bearing the logo of the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, reportedly contained mementoes from their time in captivity.

 

The video, released by Hamas, revealed that the bags included photos of the hostages during their captivity, a necklace, and a map of the Gaza Strip. Israeli media also reported that each bag contained a certificate inscribed with a “release decision” written in both Arabic and Hebrew.

 

The hostages were then taken in a Red Cross SUV to Al-Saraya Square in Gaza City, where they were handed over to the Red Cross amidst a crowd of Palestinians.

 

Before the transfer, a Hamas fighter reportedly required a Red Cross representative to sign an Arabic-language document titled “Acknowledgment of Receipt of Israeli Prisoners.”

 

“I, the representative of the International Red Cross, acknowledge that I have received from the Izz Eddin al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of the Islamic Resistance Movement Hamas, a total of three prisoners, who are…” and then the names of the hostages.

 

The Israeli women were returned to Israel on Sunday, January 19, as part of the first phase of the hostage exchange and ceasefire agreement between Gaza authorities and Israel.

 

A video released by Israel’s Foreign Ministry shows the three women being greeted by Israeli military forces on Sunday.

 

As per sources, the three hostages did not require any immediate medical care, and their bags were confiscated by Israeli authorities.

 

Hours after the release of the three hostages, Israel released 90 Palestinians.

 

Emotional footage of Palestinians returning to Gaza as part of the first phase of the deal also emerged. Some appeared physically changed, while others were seen crying as they reunited with their relatives.

 

In one such incident, Palestinian female leader Khalida Jarrar, who was freed as part of the prisoner exchange deal, showed a significant change in her appearance. Her hair had turned gray, and she apparently struggled to walk.

 

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Palestine Pixel (@palestine.pixel)

Harrowing stories of brutality faced by Palestinians in Israeli detention have surfaced before as well.

The internet also compared the condition of hostages released from both sides, with Palestinians visibly in a worse state.