"We need a moment to breathe": Romi Gonen's mother reacts with gratitude

Following her daughter Romi's return from Hamas's captivity in Gaza, Merav Leshem-Gonen wrote on her Facebook account tonight (between Sunday and Monday): "It will take me, us, a moment to breathe, and believe in the reality that we have lived through together. I promise to get back to you. There are another 97 beloved ones who are in need of realizing such a reality."

Yesterday, as part of the deal with Hamas, the three abducted women returned to Israel: Romi Gonen, Emily Damari and Doron Steinbrecher. All three returned alive and on their feet, but physical and mental rehabilitation will still be required until they fully return to their lives, after more than a year and three months in which they were held captive in the Gaza Strip.

The emotional mother wrote the post around 1:00 a.m., after the family had gone through an emotional and physically challenging day in which every moment new visitors came in for a few minutes, those who had been waiting a long time to meet their beloved Romi again. She also did not forget to mention that alongside their joy there are 94 other hostages held captive by terror and families and friends who are also waiting to receive happy news.