Hear Her Voice: British Woman Speaks After 470 Days as Gaza Hostage
Emily Damari, a 28-year-old British-Israeli woman, has been released after 471 days in Hamas captivity. Upon her release, she expressed profound gratitude, stating, “I’m the happiest person in the world, just to be.”
Emily was among the first hostages freed under a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas. She was kidnapped from her apartment in Kibbutz Kfar Aza, a communal farming village in southern Israel, during a Hamas assault in October 2023.
During her captivity, Emily endured significant hardships, including the loss of two fingers due to a gunshot wound.
Her mother, Mandy Damari, expressed immense relief and gratitude upon their reunion, thanking everyone who never stopped fighting for her daughter’s release.
Emily’s release is part of a broader ceasefire agreement, with the potential for more hostages to be freed in the coming weeks. The international community continues to monitor the situation closely, advocating for the safe return of all hostages.