Tue Feb 18th, 2025

Freed Israeli hostage Emily Damari says she is “happier than ever”

Emily Damari with her mother Photo: BringThemHomeNow via Facebook

Emily Damari, one of three Israeli hostages freed yesterday by the Islamic terrorist group Hamas in the first exchange of the ceasefire, said on Monday in a message on social media that she is “happier than ever.”

"I'm back to my life, to my loved ones, I'm happier than ever. I thank my family and my best friends," the 28-year-old wrote on her Instagram account.

This is Damari's first public message since her release. A photo of the young woman went viral yesterday, in which two fingers are missing from one hand.

Her family confirmed shortly after that she lost two fingers on her left hand to Hamas gunfire during the massive attacks on southern Israeli communities on October 7, 2023. In her message today, the young woman included an emoji of a 'horned hand', with the index and pinky fingers raised (Emily is missing her middle and ring fingers).

Emily's mother, Mandy Damari, welcomed her daughter's release today, saying the young woman is "doing much better than any of us could have anticipated."

“I am also glad that during his release the world was able to see part of his charismatic and combative personality,” Mandy wrote in a message shared by the Forum of Relatives of Hostages and Missing Persons.

She recalled that there are still 94 hostages held in Gaza, and called for the ceasefire to continue so that all of them can be returned to their families.

The first phase of the ceasefire and hostage release agreement came into effect on Sunday and has so far led to the release of three Israeli hostages in exchange for 90 Palestinian prisoners.

In the first phase of the deal, Israel and Hamas have agreed to a six-week ceasefire, which will see a gradual exchange of 33 Israeli hostages for more than 1.900 Palestinian terrorist prisoners.

During those six weeks, negotiations will also take place for a second phase of the truce, which would complete the release of all Israeli hostages in Gaza and lay the groundwork for a possible end to the war.

Agencies contributed to this Aurora article

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