The news of the first stage of a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas is “bittersweet” because of the high price that had to be paid for the release of the first three hostages, David Friedman, a former U.S. ambassador to Israel, said on Newsmax Sunday. 

“I think the entire nation of Israel and all, all decent people around the world are rejoicing at the notion that three young women who have been held in captivity for 15 months, facing undoubtedly the worst possible treatment [are being released],” Friedman told Newsmax’s “Wake Up America Weekend.”

Early Sunday, Israeli officials confirmed that Romi Gonen, 24, Emily Damari, 28, and Doron Steinbrecher, 31, were set to be released. Gonen was abducted from the Nova music festival and the others were kidnapped from Kibbutz Kfar Aza. Damari is an Israeli-British dual citizen.

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