British-Israeli freed hostage Emily Damari 'happiest girl in the world'
The 28-year-old was one of three hostages freed yesterday, in exchange for 90 Palestinian prisoners.
Last updated 20th Jan 2025
A British-Israeli woman released by Hamas after 15 months in captivity has said she has "returned to life".
In her first comments since being freed on Sunday, Emily Damari thanked her family and the large protest movement which campaigned for the release of the hostages.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you. I'm the happiest in the world," the 28-year-old said in an Instagram story shared by Israeli media.
She signed off her message with a "rock on" emoji, a possible reference to the two fingers she lost during her ordeal.
Ms Damari was taken from her home in Kibbutz Kfar Aza on the morning of Hamas's attack on Israel on October 7 2023 and shot in the hand, "blindfolded and forced into her own car with two other friends", her family said previously.
"I was finally able to give Emily the hug that I have been dreaming of." Mandy Damari
On Monday, her mother, Mandy Damari, who grew up in Beckenham, south-east London, praised her daughter's resilience.
On Monday, Emily's mum, Mandy released a statement:
"Yesterday, I was finally able to give Emily the hug that I have been dreaming of."
From the bottom of my heart I would like to thank the many people who have played a role in bringing Emily home and given their support to me and my family. As I said over the course of the campaign, you are all Emily’s family.
I am relieved to report that after her release, Emily is doing much better than any of us could ever have anticipated. I am also happy that during her release the world was given a glimpse of her feisty and charismatic personality.
In Emily’s own words, she is the happiest girl in the world; she has her life back.
In this incredibly happy moment for our family, we must also remember that 94 other hostages still remain. The ceasefire must continue and every last hostage must be returned to their families.
As wonderful as it is to see Emily’s resilience, these are still early days. As you will have seen yesterday, Emily lost two of the fingers on her left hand.
She now needs time with her loved ones and her doctors as she begins her road to recovery."
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer welcomed the "wonderful and long-overdue news" of their release and called for all hostages to be freed, saying "we must not forget" those who remain in captivity.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy said he is "pleased and delighted" that Ms Damari has been released.
"Let me just first, obviously say how pleased and delighted I am that Emily Damari has emerged," he said on Monday.
"And I say that because I grew very close to her family, and I think the whole of the country will be delighted that she is free, but recognising there are still 95 hostages being held, and there are British nationals like Nadav Popplewell who lost their life."
Mr Lammy said a social media post by Ms Damari after her release made him "very emotional".
"I have a yellow flower. It's a plastic flower that her mother gave me that's in my office that I said I would keep in my office until she was freed. I will move it from my office today and take it home. So that's... it's incredibly touching," he said.