‘I’m at home’: Freed hostage Steinbrecher sends first message to Tel Aviv rally, thanks public

By Jessica Steinberg

You will receive email alerts from this author. Manage alert preferences on your profile page

You will no longer receive email alerts from this author. Manage alert preferences on your profile page

1 February 2025, 8:54 pm

3 Edit

Jessica Steinberg, The Times of Israel's culture and lifestyles editor, covers the Sabra scene from south to north and back to the center

Released hostage Doron Steinbrecher speaking in a video shown at a Tel Aviv rally on February 1, 2025, at Hostages Square. (Screengrab)

At the weekly Tel Aviv rally for the hostages, a prerecorded video is shown with the first public statement from former hostage Doron Steinbrecher since she was released on January 19.

“The last time I recorded a video was the propaganda film for Hamas,” says Steinbrecher about a January 2024 propaganda clip in which she had blonde hair and wore a pink blouse. “This time, I’m sitting on a couch, comfortably, with my family looking at me.”

Steinbrecher, her hair now shorter and brown, says she’ll be at the hostage rally in person as soon as she can, holding a sign.

“You know me from that terrible video,” she says, smiling. “But I’m not blonde anymore and I won’t wear pink anymore. I’m Doron, I’m 31, and I’m not in captivity any longer and I’m at home.”

Steinbrecher says it’s important for her to send this message and for everyone to see her as she is now.

“I’m okay, and I’m here because of you and I’m okay,” she says, clasping her hands.

“Thanks to all of you who helped me and my family, people I don’t even know,” says Steinbrecher. “Thank you to the soldiers and the security forces. I’m trying to understand everything that happened during this period.”

Steinbrecher speaks about those whose loved ones are still in captivity.

“We’ll do, I’ll do all I can until all are home and we can close this circle, and we’re together in this until it’s over,” says Steinbrecher.

Steinbrecher’s mother, Simone Steinbrecher, and sister, Yamit Ashkenazi, speak at the rally at Hostages Square.

“Did you see her?” Ashkenazi says. “I want to say, ‘I told you so!'” and the crowd applauds.

“She isn’t a captive anymore,” says Ashkenazi.

Ashkenazi thanks Netanyahu and Trump for their success in securing the release of 18 hostages so far — 13 Israeli, and five Thai — in the current deal, and says she is relying on them to fulfill the second and third stages of the hostage deal and bring home every hostage.

“I’m a mother who got to hug her daughter and I want to offer a huge thank you for that. So many won’t get to do that,” says Simone Steinbrecher. “But my heart is torn that others won’t, those who lost their loved ones.”

“We’re with you,” calls the crowd. “You are not alone.”