Mum of Emily Damari says freed daughter ‘in high spirits’ and ‘on road to recovery’ after Brit’s Hamas captivity hell

BRAVE Brit hostage Emily Damari is “in high spirits and on the road to recovery,” her mum has revealed.

The news came as Mandy Damari gave an emotional first statement after Emily’s release from her horror 471-day captivity by Hamas.

AFP

Emily Damari’s mum Mandy has revealed her daughter is ‘in high spirits and on the road to recovery’[/caption]

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Mandy Damari, Emily Damari’s mother, speaks during a press conference at Sheba Medical Center on Monday in Ramat Gan, Israel[/caption]

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Brit hostage Emily Damari gave a defiant salute with a bullet-ravaged hand — after running a ­terrifying gauntlet of hate as she was freed by Hamas[/caption]

Israel Government Press Office

The Brit embraces in a tight hug with her mum[/caption]

She praised the global effort that secured her daughter’s freedom, thanking the soldiers who “fought and gave their lives,” international leaders, and the thousands of volunteers who campaigned tirelessly for Emily’s safe return.

Mandy, 63, said on Monday: “I’m delighted to be able to tell you that Emily is in high spirits and on the road to recovery.

“As you will have seen last night, she is an amazingly strong and resilient young woman.”

In her plea to the world, the mum added: “Please keep on fighting for the remaining 94 hostages who need to come home.

“The hostages in Gaza must have access to humanitarian aid while they are waiting to be released.”

It comes as the fearless Brit has spoken out for the first time since she was released by Hamas.

The 28-year-old said she is “the happiest person in the world” in the first Instagram post after 15 months in captivity.

She wrote: “I’m loving, loving, loving. Thanks be to G-d. Thanks to my family, to Oreli, to the best friends I have in this world. I have returned to life, my loved ones.

“I have managed to see just a tiny bit of everything, and you have shattered my heart from emotion. Thank you, thank you, thank you. I am the happiest person in the world, just to be.”

At the end of her post she signed with a “rock on ” emoji symbolising her two missing fingers she lost the day she was shot in the hand by Hamas.

Emily’s release, alongside Israeli captives Romi Gonen, 24, and Doron Steinbrecher, 31, came as part of a fragile ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas.

But the journey to freedom was fraught with tension and terror.

Emily, 28, was abducted during the devastating October 7 Hamas assault on a kibbutz.

She suffered horrific injuries as militants stormed her home, shooting her dog Choocha in her arms before turning their guns on her.

Two of her fingers were shot off, and she was dragged into captivity.

For more than a year, Emily endured unthinkable conditions in underground tunnels, described by freed captives as places of “torture, isolation, and fear.”

She was unable to eat or even move without permission.

Despite this, the brave Brit-Israeli became a beacon of hope for fellow hostages, her close friend Liki Aviana calling her “a star” with “the biggest heart.”

Mandy Damari had been calling for a deal to set her daughter Emily Damari free from Hamas

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Emily Damari is the British-Israeli who was kidnapped from her home in Kfar Aza[/caption]

Twitter/IDF

Emily, centre, Romi, left, and Doron on their release yesterday[/caption]

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One image appears to show British hostage Emily – with a bandaged hand – getting out of the van after Palestinian Hamas militants handed over the three victims[/caption]

The trio’s release was nearly derailed as Hamas delayed providing their names, prompting Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu to accuse the group of breaching the ceasefire terms.

Families waiting for news of their loved ones endured agonising uncertainty until Hamas finally identified the women.

Emily, Romi, and Doron were handed over to Red Cross mediators in scenes of high drama.

The women appeared terrified as they were jostled by armed Hamas militants and ferried through hostile crowds chanting and waving V-for-victory salutes.

Touching moments followed their arrival in Israel, where Emily was embraced by her mum at an Israeli Defence Forces reception centre.

A photo shared by Mandy showed the pair hugging for the first time in over 15 months, with the caption: “Emily’s home.”

Another image showed Emily, bandaged but defiant, waving her injured hand in a powerful gesture of resilience.

Mandy, who had kept her hopes alive by pretending to hug Emily every morning, said her release was made possible by a global effort.

She praised world leaders, including President Biden, President Trump, and the British government, as well as Spurs fans, volunteers, and the medical staff at Sheba Hospital, who are now overseeing Emily’s recovery.

The ceasefire, which brought a temporary halt to a 15-month Gaza conflict that has claimed over 46,000 lives, will see more hostages released in stages over the next few weeks.