One of three Israeli women to be released after being held hostage by Hamas for 471 days has been described as a daughter who is “the happiest when she dances”.

Romi Gonen, 24, was one of those captured by the armed group while trying to flee the Nova Festival during an attack on October 7, 2023.

She is expected to be released along with veterinary nurse Doron Steinbrecher, 31, and Emily Damari, 28, who has dual British and Israeli citizenship.

Their release was part of the first phase of the agreement between Israel and Hamas – a delay in Israel’s obtaining the names, which Hamas blamed on “technical reasons”, delayed the ceasefire by nearly three hours.

Romi traveled from her home in Kaffa Veladim, northern Israel, to attend the Nova Festival.

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum, which represents her family, said she went “to do what she loves, dance” – she studied dance for 12 years, starred in solos and became an “amazing choreographer”.

As sirens blared as the Hamas attack unfolded, Romi called her family. Her mother, Merav, recalled hearing gunshots and shouting in Arabic during her last phone call with her daughter.

Romi was ambushed by Hamas militants as she tried to flee the festival.

A video posted to a family forum last November described her as “the girl with the biggest, brightest smile and the best friend.”

Doron, a 31-year-old veterinary nurse, was abducted from her apartment in Kibbutz Kfar Aza during a Hamas attack.

In May last year, her sister Yamit Ashkenazi wrote an emotional letter via the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, calling her “my sunshine”.

“I hope you feel the energy we are sending you,” it read.

“I hope you know at least some of the fight we have here for your release. I hope you feel it all. Love you, long for you, heartbroken, but still fighting for you.”

In a previous article, Doron was described as “the glue that connected all her friends, sensitive and funny, always smiling and the first to offer help.”

She studied drama and film at school and developed a love for animals, which led her to become a veterinary nurse.

In November 2023, Doron’s sister Yamit spoke about the new tattoo in an interview with the BBC. It says, “When the sun rises, we will rise again,” but some of the sun’s rays are missing.

“They’ll be added when she gets home,” she added.

Emily, 28, a dual British-Israeli national, was also taken hostage from the Kfar Azha Kibbutz in the attack on 7 October.

When news broke of her release on Sunday, A source close to her family said It was “471 painful days, but an especially painful 24 hours.”

“All Emily’s mom Mandy wants to do is hug Emily. But she won’t believe it until she sees it,” the source said.

Emily has strong links with the UK – she is a Tottenham Hotspur fan and often comes here to visit relatives, attend concerts, shop and go to the pubs.

Her mother, Mandy Damari, previously told the BBC that Emily was “the heart of our family and that heart is missing”.

“I love her to the moon and back, she’s a special person,” she added.