Mandy Damari shared a photo of her daughter, Emily Damari, on X, showing her injured hand without bandages for the first time since her release. “Thank you to everyone in the UK and around the world who supported the campaign to bring Emily home… 94 hostages still need us,” Mandy wrote.
Emily, kidnapped from her Kfar Aza apartment on October 7 alongside 37 other residents, sustained her injury during the abduction, where her dog Choocha was also shot. She was freed with Romi Gonen and Doron Steinbrecher as part of a ceasefire hostage deal.
A southeast London native and devoted Tottenham Hotspur fan, Emily was honored during the North London Derby against Arsenal with the release of yellow balloons in the seventh minute. Fans had previously chanted, “She’s one of our own, Emily Damari, bring her home.”
Tony Moss, Emily’s cousin, expressed relief at her release, calling it “just the beginning” and urging continued efforts for the remaining hostages. He described seeing photos of Emily with her mother as deeply emotional, saying, “We carried huge anxiety for 471 days. Now we can let it go—at least for Emily.”
Emily’s story remains a symbol of hope for those still awaiting freedom.
