On Sunday, many in the Jewish community were glued to their screens, watching as Emily Damari, Romi Gonen, and Doron Steinbrecher were reunited with their families, facilitated by the Red Cross. This marked the first time a humanitarian organisation had seen them in 471 days. Whilst this significant development brought a moment of celebration and relief, it also brings an apprehensive anticipation about what might come next.
The days leading up to their release were fraught and anxious. We had no idea what condition the hostages would be in, or even if they were alive. I cannot fathom how their families must have felt, not knowing the state of their loved ones. To see Emily, Romi and Doron alive and reunited with their families was a profound relief, but that sense of trepidation will remain until every hostage is released.
These three innocent Israeli women, whose only crime was being born Jewish, were released in exchange for 90 Palestinian prisoners. This is not a "prisoner swap"; it is a release of hostages for individuals who have committed horrendous acts against Israelis. We must consider the risks involved in releasing these individuals. For every hostage set free, we are letting loose those who may pose a threat to others in the region.
I would like to pay tribute to Mandy, Emily’s mother, for her strength and resilience during this unimaginable ordeal. Mandy's steadfast campaign for her daughter’s release — through the media, parliament, and various governmental channels — kept the plight of the hostages at the forefront of the agenda. I will never forget Mandy’s powerful speech at the UK Jewish community’s memorial gathering in Hyde Park on October 6 2024, where she passionately pleaded for her daughter's freedom: “Imagine, for a moment if Emily was your daughter. Try to picture what she is going through.”
Mandy's 15-month campaign has culminated in this moment of joy. The touching image of her and Emily together, smiling and reunited, brings hope not only to Israelis but also to the Jewish community as a whole. Emily is free but other hostages remain in captivity. The UK government must continue to prioritise this issue until every hostage is safely released.
While this agreement brings a temporary end to the conflict, it does not erase the damage done during this period. The tragic loss of innocent lives — both Israeli and Palestinian — cannot be undone. We must grieve for those hostages who were cruelly killed while in captivity and hope that their bodies can be returned to their families for proper mourning.
Moreover, the ceasefire will not change the strained relationships between communities here in the UK. In the wake of the events of October 7, Jews continue to live in a world marked by increased antisemitism in the UK and beyond. It was therefore reassuring that, for the first time in 15 months, the police recognised the impact of pro-Palestine marches on our community and imposed reasonable conditions on last Saturday’s National March for Palestine. These conditions ensured that Jews attending Central London synagogues did not have to navigate through hostile crowds to practice their faith. This balance between the right to protest and the right of the Jewish community to observe their religion was welcomed by the Home Secretary and must be upheld by the police for all future marches.
In light of such a reasonable approach, the scenes from Saturday were alarming and validated the police's decision to impose conditions.
As we now wait for the safe return of all hostages, I hope that this ceasefire will pave the way for lasting peace in the region. However, this conflict has exposed challenges for our community that will continue to persist despite any ceasefire. They require our ongoing attention and engagement.
Claudia Mendoza is CEO of the Jewish Leadership Council
