(20 Jan 2025)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Tel Aviv, Israel – 20 January 2025
1. Various of pictures of hostages at "Hostages Square," a gathering point for families of hostages and other supporters
2. SOUNDBITE (Hebrew) Ora Golan, Tel Aviv resident:
"The feelings are mixed because all of the people of Israel and myself have gone through a very difficult time and our heart still cries out for all the wounded and martyrs who lost their lives for the sake of the return of the hostages, for the sake of the existence of the country perhaps. And the joy was great that three hostages returned yesterday. And my heart is strong and I hope that all the rest will return intact and in good health, and continue their lives happily and in wealth."
3. Various of pictures of hostages on tent
4. SOUNDBITE (Hebrew) Yafa Twito, Tel Aviv resident:
"Great pride, great joy, alongside pain and hope that this is a start to bring everyone back, leaving no one behind. And only if we bring everyone back, will we know that this is our country, this is the country I at least dreamed of, leaving no one behind. That’s why I’m here today, I stopped. I came to really identify with them, all the pictures here, of those who are still there, and to think of each one as if it were my boy, my girl, my mother, my father. We will not rest and will not be silent until everyone returns."
5. Various of pictures of hostages at square
6. Timer showing days and hours in captivity
7. Pan of Hostages Square
STORYLINE:
Tel Aviv residents woke up with mixed feelings on Monday after the ceasefire that went into effect Sunday morning stirred modest hopes for ending the Israel-Hamas war.
The joy of seeing freed hostages Emily Damari, Romi Gonen, and Doron Steinbrecher reunited with their families was tempered by major questions over the fate of the nearly 100 others abducted in Hamas’ October 7 2023 attack, still in captivity in Gaza.
"The feelings are mixed because all of the people of Israel and myself have gone through a very difficult time and our heart still cries out for all the wounded and martyrs who lost their lives for the sake of the return of the hostages, for the sake of the existence of the country perhaps," said Tel Aviv resident Ora Golan.
Damari, Gonen and Steinbrecher were the first among 33 Israeli hostages who are meant to be released in the coming six weeks in a deal that includes a pause in fighting, the release of nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and increased fuel and aid deliveries for Gaza.
What happens after the deal’s first phase of 42 days is uncertain.
The agreement’s subsequent stages call for further releases of hostages and prisoners and a permanent end to the war.
"Great pride, great joy, alongside pain and hope that this is a start to bring everyone back, leaving no one behind," said Yafa Twito, a Tel Aviv resident.
"Only if we bring everyone back, will we know that this is our country, this is the country I at least dreamed of, leaving no one behind," Twito added.
But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who was pressured by the outgoing Biden administration and incoming Trump administration to secure a deal before the president-elect’s inauguration Monday in Washington, has said he received assurances from Trump that Israel could continue fighting Hamas if necessary.
The toll of the war has been staggering, and new details about its scale and impact will emerge.
The next release of hostages and prisoners is due Saturday.
In just over two weeks, talks are to begin on the far more challenging second phase of the ceasefire agreement.
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