British-Israeli citizen Emily Damari has indicated in her first comments since her release from captivity that she has been “returned to my beloved life.”
A 28-year-old woman was shot in her hand and kidnapped from her residence in southern Israel on October 7, 2023.
She was one of the initial three hostages to be freed on Sunday as part of the much anticipated release.
After being released, Ms. Damari posted on Instagram, expressing her gratitude to God, her family, and her friends by writing, “love, love, love”.
She reportedly praised the response to her release on Sunday, saying “You broke my heart with excitement, thank you.”
At the bottom of the message, Ms. Damari includes a small hand emoji with two fingers curled up, a poignant reminder of the two fingers she had to amputate following a gunshot wound she sustained to her hand when she was taken into custody.
Ms. Damari’s family is overjoyed now that she’s back, and it’s especially significant given that they were only told in March 2024 that she was still alive, with no further updates on her health given until now.
Emily’s mother Mandy, who has spent years advocating for her daughter’s release, said in a statement: “Finally, after 471 long days, Emily is back home.
I want to express my gratitude to everyone who tirelessly advocated for Emily’s safe return throughout this entire difficult ordeal, and who persisted in using her name. In Israel, Britain, the United States, and globally, thank you for making it possible for Emily to come home.
She stated that while Emily’s nightmare is behind her, the frustrating wait continues for other families.
British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer described the release of the three hostages as “wonderful and long overdue”.
Ms. Damari’s release – along with those of Romi Gonen, 24, and Doron Steinbrecher, 31- marked the beginning of multiple releases scheduled to take place over the next six weeks, pending the ceasefire’s continuation.
The hostages will continue to be released until a total of 33 Israelis have been freed and about 1,900 Palestinians have been freed in exchange.
