Freed Hostage Emily Damari Expresses Gratitude After Release

Emily Damari, one of three Israeli women freed on Sunday after 471 days of captivity in Gaza, took to Instagram to express her immense joy and gratitude.

“I’m back to my life, my loved ones, I’m the happiest person in the world. I’m grateful to my family and my best friends,” she wrote. “I was able to see only a glimpse of [everything you’ve all done for me]. My heart is broken with emotions.”

Emily’s mother, Meirav Leshem Gonen, shared her relief, saying that Emily is “taking a moment to breathe it in and believe in this new reality.”

Emily, a 28-year-old dual Israeli-UK national, was abducted from her apartment in Kibbutz Kfar Aza’s youth neighborhood during Hamas’s brutal October 7 attacks. Shot in the hand during her capture, she endured 15 months in captivity before her release.

Her release, along with Doron Steinbrecher and Romi Gonen, marks the start of a phased ceasefire agreement. As part of the deal, Israel released 90 Palestinian prisoners on Sunday night.

The first phase of the agreement includes the release of 30 additional hostages over six weeks in exchange for hundreds of imprisoned Palestinian terrorists. The exact number will depend on how many hostages are confirmed alive.

Hamas’s October 7 attacks killed at least 1,200 people and resulted in the abduction of 252 individuals, including Israelis and foreign nationals. Of the 95 hostages still in captivity, more than 30 have been declared deceased.

Emily’s words of gratitude reflect not only her personal relief but also the collective yearning of families and a nation waiting for all hostages to return home. Share this article or subscribe to our newsletter for updates on Israel’s ongoing efforts to bring its people back.