The wave of joy that swept over Israel on Sunday, when three hostages were liberated from Hamas captivity in the Gaza Strip, overshadowed only briefly the growing political divide and the fragility of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition, now left with a small majority of 62 Knesset members out of 120.

Hours before the release, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and his Jewish Power party — six parliamentarians in all — announced they were resigning from the government. Their resignation is expected to go into effect Tuesday morning. 

First lap of hostage deal underway

Emily Damari, 28, Romi Gonen, 24, and Doron Steinbrecher, 31, all kidnapped by Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023, reunited Sunday evening with their families, after 471 days in captivity. The three women were first handed over by Hamas to representatives of the International Red Cross. The initial exchange took place in Gaza City after which the Red Cross transferred the women to Israeli troops stationed inside the Gaza Strip, who then took them to the nearest crossing point into Israel.