Parents of 3 hostages freed Sunday speak with PM, urge him to free all captives

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks on the phone with the parents of Emily Damari, Doron Steinbrecher and Romi Gonen — freed from Hamas captivity on Sunday — who urge him to do everything he can to bring the rest of the hostages home.

“We didn’t give up and we won’t give up on the others,” Netanyahu tells them in a recording of the call distributed by the Prime Minister’s Office.

Merav Leshem Gonen, Romi’s mother, thanks him for doing the “moral, responsible thing, having the courage” to bring them home. She says the three women are starting their process of recovery, “and their strong wish is to bring back the rest of their brothers and sisters.”

Simona Steinbrecher, Doron’s mother, tells Netanyahu that “we are asking in the name of Doron, begging, not to stop — everyone needs to be with their families.”

Emily’s mother Mandy, speaking in English, thanks the prime minister “for finally signing a ceasefire agreement, I know it took a lot of courage, but it was so important to get Emily back, and all the hostages need to feel as happy as we feel.”