British-Israeli woman Emily Damari is finally set to be released today after spending the past 15 months as Hamas’s hostage.
The 28-year-old’s release, alongside fellow female hostages Romi Gonen, 24, and 31-year-old Doron Steinbrecher, is part of the opening phase of the Gaza ceasefire deal which began on Sunday morning.
Ms Damari was in her own apartment in Kfar Aza kibbutz in Israel – two miles from the Gaza border – when she was abducted during the 7 October Hamas attack.
They entered her home and shot her golden cockapoo Choocha dead and shot her, according to her mother Mandy Damari.
Her mum said she was “shot in the hand, injured by shrapnel in her leg, blindfolded, bundled into the back of her own car” and driven back into Gaza.
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She has remained hidden in the war-torn country since then.
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Here is everything we know about Emily Damari, the only remaining British hostage in Gaza.
Tottenham lover, Ed Sheeran fan and ‘best BBQ host’
Ms Damari, the youngest of four siblings, is a joint UK and Israeli citizen who was born and raised in Israel.
Her mother Mandy Damari, born in Addington, Surrey, said her daughter “adores” coming to visit the UK annually and describes it as her “second home across the sea”.
Mandy, who has been campaigning for her daughter’s release since her abduction, has called her “beautiful” and “charismatic” with a “cheeky smile” and “a consummate daughter, sister, and friend”.
“Her house is always full of people, whether hosting the best BBQs on the kibbutz or just serving up a cup of tea,” she added.
One of her defining physical features is a tattoo on her left arm which reads: “My mum is always right.”
Much of Ms Damari’s interests are wrapped in British culture, her family says, describing her as a huge supporter of Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur.
In a touching moment during the North London derby earlier this week, Tottenham fans joined forces with rival Arsenal supporters to advocate for Ms Damari and other hostages’ releases.
Ms Damari’s family say she is also a lover of British music, with a particular love of songs by artists such as Jessie J, Ed Sheeran, James Arthur and Adele.
During their campaigns for Ms Damari, her family listed her other British passions, such as Cadbury’s chocolate buttons, a “proper British Christmas”, shopping in Primark and Sports Direct, Jo Malone Perfume, the Harry Potter films and a full English breakfast.
Her mum, who moved to Israel from Kent when she was in her 20s, said her daughter was saving up enough money to go travelling, with the USA and Japan top of her bucket list.
A long wait for freedom
Mandy Damari spoke publicly about her daughter for the first time last October – almost a year after she was taken hostage.
“One year has passed and she is still in hell,” she told a rally in Hyde Park.
At that point Mandy, 63, said she had spoken to some of the hostages released by Hamas as part of an earlier ceasefire deal, who had told her that her daughter was still alive.
“They all told me about her bravery and courage and even her laughter and the way she helped hold everyone together even in the worst times,” she said.
Mandy’s appeal was backed by Orly Goldschmidt, a spokeswoman for Israel’s UK embassy, who told Sky News at the time that Emily was “still in the dungeon of Hamas”.
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In an update provided by the family in December 2024, they opened up on their fears over Ms Damari’s health, saying they hadn’t had any proof that she was still alive since March 2024.
“We worry that Emily is no longer singing,” her mother said.
“Over the last 14 months whilst in captivity enduring unimaginable horrors, she has missed birthdays, weddings and the births of friends’ and family members’ children.”
The family revealed Ms Damari’s grandfather Sidney Moss, who lived in London, died last year aged 97, knowing his granddaughter was still held captive in Gaza.
How did the hostage release happen?
Emily Damari’s imminent release is part of a ceasefire deal agreed by Israel’s cabinet on Friday night after a breakthrough in negotiations mediated by the US, Qatar and Egypt was announced on Wednesday.
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The ceasefire began at 9.15am on Sunday morning, delayed by almost three hours after Hamas failed to issue a list of the hostages up for release to Israel.
