Australian leaders react to release of hostages
Watching the women finally be embraced by their mums, "was an overwhelming and emotional moment across Israel and the Jewish world".
Australian leaders, including Opposition Leader Peter Dutton, have expressed their relief at the safe release of Romi Gonen, Emily Damari and Doron Steinbrecher from Gaza after spending 471 days in Hamas captivity.
Masked Hamas gunmen handed the three women to the Red Cross at Saraya Square in central Gaza City, where a hostile crowd of mainly young men had gathered to taunt the young women.
“It doesn’t even bear thinking what they’ve been through – the torture, and the torture for their families,” said Dutton.
“Our thoughts and prayers today must continue for those who are still held in captivity, those who are still suffering because of the attacks on October 7 – those who survived the attacks and those who are living with the mental and physical scars of that barbaric attack.”
CEO of the Zionist Federation of Australia Alon Cassuto said watching the women finally be embraced by their mums, “was an overwhelming and emotional moment across Israel and the Jewish world”.
“Their release brings home the fact that so many in the western world, including in Australia, have remained silent for fifteen months while babies, children, women, and the elderly have rotted in the tunnels of Gaza,” said Cassuto.
“Images of their release also brings home the fact that Hamas cannot, under any circumstances, have any future role in the future governance of Gaza.
“While many of us breathe a collective sigh of relief today, we cannot forget there are still 94 hostages being held in Gaza who must be released as soon as possible.”
Co-CEO of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry Alex Ryvchin said the three women were “completely abandoned” by the international community, the United Nations, Western governments and women’s groups.
“Now they’re home, and it’s difficult to know what condition they’re in psychologically and physically, but it’s as though they’re born again,” he said.
Ryvchin said the exchange of 90 political prisoners, some of whom were serving life sentences for rape and murder, was “an excruciatingly high price that Israel is paying”.
“You’ve got hundreds of convicted terrorists being released, including dozens serving life sentences for multiple killings – including one man who raped and strangled to death a young woman outside Jerusalem,” said Ryvchin.
“Why the Palestinians want these people back and want them in their society beyond me, but they’ll soon be welcomed back as heroes.”
Dutton said the people who are celebrating the release of terrorists from prison, “only demonstrate, once again, the levels of their depravity”.
“They shouldn’t be held up as heroes; they are people that should be condemned,” he said.
Chairman of the Anti-Defamation Commission Dvir Abramovich said the return of the three brave women, “marks a bittersweet chapter in an ongoing tragedy”.
“Their release, the first under a long-awaited ceasefire agreement, is a testament to the unyielding resilience of the Israeli people and the unbreakable bonds of a community that never gave up hope,” said Abramovich.
“To Romi, Emily, and Doron: Welcome home. Your courage in the face of unimaginable suffering inspires us all. To those still waiting, know this: your pain is ours, your fight is ours, and your freedom remains our mission. We will not stand still, and we will not falter.”
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