As Israelis welcomed the return of the first three hostages from Gaza on Sunday, individuals across the country shared feelings ranging from joy to anger and horror at the terms of the ceasefire deal with The Press Service of Israel.
Doron Steinbrecher, Romi Gonen and Emily Damari were reunited with their families in Israel after 471 days in captivity. Shortly after their arrival, 90 imprisoned Palestinian terrorists were released from the Ofer Prison north of Jerusalem.
Adele, a resident of Kibbutz Nirim, one of the Gaza border areas devastated by terrorists on October 7, described new-found fear.
“My feelings about the whole situation now is complex,” said the 70-year-old. “On the one hand we are releasing convicts, convicted terrorists, to freedom. These are people with radical philosophy and blood on their hands. As someone who lives on the border, I also know that the fact that the Hamas are ending this war feeling emboldened, knowing that they can demand whatever they want from Israel, is a very frightening situation.”