After being released from captivity by Hamas terrorists, Israeli hostage Emily Damari is in much better health than her family had feared, her mother revealed. Despite losing two fingers during her 15-month imprisonment, Damari, a 28-year-old British-Israeli citizen, is said to be in good spirits.
Alongside Damari, two other hostages, Romi Gonen, 23, and Doron Steinbrecher, 31, were also released on Sunday as part of the first wave of the cease-fire deal with Hamas. Damari’s mother, Mandy Damari, expressed her joy at being able to finally embrace her daughter after such a long and harrowing ordeal.
According to Mandy, Emily is doing remarkably well and is said to be the happiest girl in the world now that she has her life back. She emphasized Emily’s resilience and charismatic personality, urging the public to remember the remaining 94 hostages still held by Hamas and to continue supporting their release.
While acknowledging the long road to recovery ahead for Emily, Mandy thanked the public for their unwavering support over the past 15 months. She also requested privacy for Emily and the family as they heal from the traumatic experience.
The release of Damari, Gonen, and Steinbrecher was marked by a tense exchange with masked terrorists armed with assault rifles. Two of the women were handed “gift bags” containing a certificate and photos of their time in captivity.
The deal between Israel and Hamas involves the release of 50 hostages in exchange for a 4-day pause in hostilities and the release of Palestinian prisoners. The cease-fire could be extended for every 10 hostages released by Hamas, with the potential release of three Americans included in the agreement.
As the world celebrates the release of Damari and her fellow hostages, the focus remains on the remaining captives, including three American hostages. The hope is that negotiations will lead to the safe return of all hostages and the end of the conflict in Gaza.
