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Freed hostages reunited with families after 471 days in Gaza

"Every last hostage must be released, and humanitarian aid must be provided to the hostages who are still waiting to come home," said Mandy Damari, whose daughter Emily was one of the three freed hostages.

Released hostages Emily Damari, Doron Steinbrecher and Romi Gonen were reunited with their families at Sheba Tel Hashomer Medical Center in Ramat Gan on Sunday night after 471 in Hamas captivity in the Gaza Strip.

The three women were the first of the 33 captives expected to be freed during the first phase of the ceasefire agreement with Hamas that went into effect earlier in the day. The women were handed over to the Israel Defense Forces by representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross inside the Gaza Strip.

A Hamas propaganda clip released after the women left the terrorist group’s control showed them being forced to accept bags of “mementos” from their time in captivity, including a Hamas...

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ā€˜Iā€™m loving, loving, lovingā€™: Freed hostage Emily Damari takes to social media

"Thanks be to God. Thanks to my family, to Oreli, to the best friends I have in this world," wrote the former captive.

(Jan. 20, 2025 / JNS)

Emily Damari, who was freed on Sunday following 471 days in Hamas captivity, took to Instagram on Monday for the first time since being taken captive on Oct. 7, 2023, thanking her family, friends and God for her release.

“I’m loving, loving, loving. Thanks be to God. Thanks to my family, to Oreli, to the best friends I have in this world. I have returned to life, my loved ones,” she wrote.

“I have only managed to see just a tiny bit of everything, and you have exploded my heart from emotion. Thank you, thank you, thank you. I am the happiest person in the world, just to be,” she added.

 

At the end of her post, she added an “I love you” emoji. Damari lost two of her fingers during her Oct. 7 kidnapping. https://twitter.com/davidhazony/status/1881245241086202349

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Poll: 21% of US voters support Hamas over Israel in conflict

Some 25% of Democrats and 19% of Republicans favor Islamists over the Jewish state • And 82% back the ceasefire.

Twenty-one percent of American voters say they support Hamas over Israel in Jerusalem’s ongoing war against the U.S.-designated terrorist organization, according to a Harvard CAPS/Harris poll published over the weekend.

Harvard/Harris surveyed a representative sample of 2,650 registered voters on Jan. 15-16. (The reported margin of error for the total sample is plus or minus 1.9 percentage points at a confidence level of 95%.)

Asked “Do you support more Israel or more Hamas?” in the war, 75% of Democrats backed the Jewish state, while 25% expressed more approval for the Palestinian terrorist group. Among Republican voters, 81% said they supported Jerusalem more, compared to 19% for Hamas.

Support for Hamas polled the highest among the 25 to 34 age group, where almost one-third said they favored the terrorists over Israel.

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God Is Close to the Brokenhearted - A Call for Modern-Day Esthers

God Is Close to the Brokenhearted: A Call for Modern-Day Esthers

Shalom, Modern-Day Esthers,

The recent news of 33 hostages being released stirs a mix of emotions—relief for those coming home, heartbreak for the seven being returned for burial, and the haunting knowledge that so many remain in captivity. For some families, there is joy and gratitude, yet even that joy is shadowed by the visible and invisible scars these survivors carry. For others, the long-awaited answer to their prayers is met with mourning, as they prepare to bury their loved ones rather than embrace them.

It is a deeply human moment—a mixture of hope and heartbreak, celebration and grief. Families waiting to embrace their loved ones carry a burden of uncertainty: How will they begin to heal? Will they ever find peace after the horrors they endured? And for those whose loved ones didn’t return, the weight of loss is overwhelming, mingled with a longing for justice and closure.

In moments like...

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Israel Assists Fire-Stricken Californians: Friends Helping Friends

By Arlene Bridges Samuels

For over a week, the intense blazes leveling California neighborhoods have been headline news. After months of near-zero rainfall, the area was vulnerable to the flames and fiery embers propelled by fierce Santa Ana winds. What perhaps hasn’t made the headlines is how Israel quickly came to their aid.

Two leading Israeli humanitarian relief organizations, IsraAID and SmartAID, sprang into action as the disastrous fires spread in and around Los Angeles, driven by severe and intense winds. SmartAID is already on the ground providing solar-telecommunication trailers, with 150 portable battery units supplied to U.S. medical charities and individuals that rely on refrigeration for insulin, food, CPAP machines, and oxygen.

IsraAID is making its plans now. Once the fires are contained, their Emergency Team of Israeli volunteers and humanitarian professionals will partner with California communities, providing ongoing help to rebuild their lives....

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Israel-Hamas truce to begin Sunday at 8:30 am

The ceasefire with the Hamas terrorist organization will come into effect at 8:30 a.m. on Sunday, with the first three hostages—women—set to be freed from Gazan captivity sometime after 4 p.m.

Israel estimates that 25 of the 33 people on the list of hostages to be returned in the first stage of the ceasefire agreement are alive.

According to the Justice Ministry, Israel will release 1,904 Palestinian terrorists in the first stage: 737 prisoners and administrative detainees—among them killers with blood on their hands—and 1,167 residents of the Gaza Strip not involved in the Oct. 7, 2023, massacre.

As of Saturday evening, Israel had yet to receive the names of the first three hostages that Hamas will release on Sunday, in an apparent violation of the agreement that requires the terrorist group to inform Israeli authorities of the names 24...

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Godā€™s Presence in Brokenness and Suffering

“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” – Psalm 34:18

Suffering has a way of breaking us open. It strips away the illusions of control, the comforts of routine, and the walls we build to protect ourselves. Whether it comes through personal loss, the grief of a nation, or the pain of watching others endure unimaginable hardship, suffering leaves us asking the question, Where is God in this?

Scripture answers that question with a beautiful, unshakable promise: “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted.” God’s presence is not removed in suffering—it’s magnified. He draws near to us in our most vulnerable moments, offering comfort and healing that transcends human understanding.

The Depth of Brokenness
Brokenness can feel like the end of the story, but in God’s hands, it is often the beginning. King David, who wrote Psalm 34, knew this well. He was hunted by Saul, betrayed by his own son, and...

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A Glorious Future:Tomorrow

Tomorrow, Sunday, January 19th, 33 hostages are expected to be released as part of the Israel-Hamas agreement. As we await their return, join us in lifting up prayers for their families, the nation of Israel, and the brave teams working to bring them home. In today’s edition, we explore the care awaiting these hostages upon their release, uncover the truth behind media distortions on Israel, and celebrate groundbreaking advancement investments in Israel. Together, let’s stand in faith, hope, and action as we look forward to brighter days.

 


 What Made the Hostage Deal Finally Happen? 

 

As President-elect Trump prepares for his inauguration, the long-awaited Israel-Hamas hostage deal has finally come to fruition. Was it Trump’s bold “Peace Through Strength” approach that turned the tide? Discover how this moment mirrors history and what it means for Israel’s future.

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Unmasking Media Bias Against Israel

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Hospitals gear up for release of Gaza captives

The Health Ministry unveils medical protocol for soon-to-be-released hostages based on lessons learned from the 2023 prisoner exchange.


Written by: Maytal Yasur Beit-Or

(Jan. 17, 2025 / Israel Hayom)
Israel’s Health Ministry has formulated a comprehensive protocol for treating hostages, due soon to be released from Hamas captivity in Gaza, based on lessons learned from the 2023 exchange of Israeli hostages for Palestinian terrorists.

The protocol includes detailed guidelines for medical examinations, mental health care, privacy protection and long-term support for returnees and their families, emphasizing personalized care and respect for dignity.

Key guidelines

  • Advance information: Transfer of medical information to hospitals before returnees’ arrival, including reports from border-crossing medical teams;
  • Initial assessment: Immediate evaluation with a family member present, with the option of female staff for women returnees;
  • Comprehensive battery of tests: Infectious...
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Brinkmanship to Breakthrough: Trumpā€™s Peace Doctrine in Action

a glorious future Jan 17, 2025

As President-elect Donald Trump prepares for his inauguration, the resolution of the Israel-Hamas hostage deal is dominating headlines, drawing striking historical parallels to Ronald Reagan’s swift diplomatic impact in 1981. Jason D. Meister’s analysis underscores the sharp contrast between Trump’s decisive “Peace Through Strength” doctrine and the Biden administration’s faltering diplomacy.

Meister writes, “There better be a deal before I’m sworn in or there will be hell to pay.” This unapologetically bold statement from Trump, paired with his strategic leadership, compelled action in a way that 460 days of indecision under Biden could not. Just as Reagan’s presidency expedited the release of Iranian hostages, Trump’s incoming term has shown that resolve and moral clarity are essential to projecting power and securing peace.

Meister adds, “Weakness invites aggression.” This reminder, especially in the...

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