'I just want to hug her': Family of British-Israeli hostage on news she will be released


Hamas has released the names of the first group of hostages it plans to release as part of its ceasefire deal with Israel and among them is British-Israeli national Emily Damari. It has been 471 days since the 28-year-old was shot in the hand and taken into Gaza from her southern Israeli home, during which time her family has fought tirelessly for her release. Now there is finally some hope of Emily being reunited with her loved ones, although for her mother, Mandy Damari, the wait has been excruciating and she admits she won’t believe it’s happened until she sees Emily.

The Damari family were informed in March 2024 that Emily was still alive but since then have received no information about her condition. Emily has connections to the UK and is a Tottenham Hotspur fan, often visiting the country to see her relatives, attend concerts and go shopping. Emily’s mother has campaigned for her daughter’s release and also criticized both the UK government and international community for their failure to act on behalf of Emily and the other hostages in similar circumstances.

For the Damari family, the last year and a half has been a brutal separation, with Mandy Damari worrying every day about the conditions her daughter is being held in, and fearing for Emily’s physical and mental well-being. Emily has missed significant moments including the death of her British grandfather while she was in captivity. While Emily’s release is long-awaited news, it is not the end of the story for the Damari family, who will continue to push for the release of the remaining hostages and seek humanitarian aid for those still being held captive.

The focus for the Damari family now will be on healing and getting Emily the medical and psychological support she needs. It is hoped that one day she will be able to put her traumatic experience behind her and live a full life as she did before her capture

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