Emily Damari among first three hostages freed by Hamas as ceasefire deal takes effect, with 90 Palestinian held in Israeli jails also freed
‘I’ve returned to my beloved life,’ freed British-Israeli hostage says after release from Gaza
British-Israeli national Emily Damari – among the first three hostages freed from Gaza by Hamas as part of a ceasefire deal with Israel – says she has “returned to my beloved life” in the moving first comments she has made since her release.
Ms Damari, 28, was freed from 15 months in captivity on Sunday as the truce deal came into effect, with authorities reporting she had lost two fingers when she was taken from her home during Hamas attack inside Israel on 7 October, 2023, during which around 1,200 people were killed and another 250 were taken hostage.
In emotional remarks made hours after her release on Monday morning, Emily, who is a dual British-Israeli citizen, thanked her family and the large protest movement that campaigned for the release of the hostages.
‘I’ve returned to my beloved life,’ freed British-Israeli hostage says after release from Gaza