From Captivity to Recovery: Emily Damari's Journey Towards Healing

Emily Damari, a British-Israeli hostage held for 15 months, reflects on her painful recovery journey after being shot during a terrorist attack. While she carries scars that symbolize strength and hope, she advocates for the release of remaining hostages suffering similar fates.

A British-Israeli woman, Emily Damari, has emerged with resilience after her 15-month captivity at the hands of Hamas, expressing that her scars symbolize "freedom, hope, and strength." Damari, 28, was shot during the brutal October 7, 2023, attacks that claimed many lives and led to her abduction from her southern Israel home. Subsequently, she suffered the tragic loss of two fingers.

Over the past year and a half, Damari endured intense pain and complications from her injuries due to inadequate medical attention. Having experienced surgery in Gaza for an "open, festering wound," she recounted the anguish inflicted upon hostages in captivity. Speaking about her recovery efforts, she reported positive outcomes from recent operations in Israel's Sheba Medical Center. The complex procedures yielded better results than she had anticipated, and she remarked that her hand's appearance was improving as she engages in physiotherapy to regain functionality.

While Damari feels hopeful about her healing, she remains aware that complete recovery is uncertain, emphasizing the unimaginable conditions faced by other hostages. "Hamas has created hell on Earth," she stated, calling for the immediate release of those still detained.

Her mother, Mandy Damari, expressed relief that her daughter survived without severe infections despite the harsh realities she faced in captivity. Looking ahead, Emily Damari aspires to visit the UK with her mother and personally thank those who supported her during her recovery.

Damari's ordeal is part of a broader context where, during Hamas's attack, 251 hostages were taken, and significant casualties occurred on both sides, leading to a catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza. Following a ceasefire agreement, some hostages have been released, but the struggle continues for many families as the conflict persists.