Home Australia Revealed: Brit Emily Damari’s heartbreaking five-word statement to her mother as she and other Hamas hostages got to hold their loved ones for the first time after being freed

Revealed: Brit Emily Damari’s heartbreaking five-word statement to her mother as she and other Hamas hostages got to hold their loved ones for the first time after being freed

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Emily Damari hugs her mother Mandy after being released

This is the emotional moment three Hamas hostages finally hugged their loved ones for the first time after being freed, with British-Israeli Emily Damari telling her mother: “It’s only because of you that I survived.”

Emily, 28, Romi Gonen, 24, and Doron Steinbrecher, 31, were handed over to the Red Cross on Sunday after 471 days as hostages.

Their mothers watched the launch on the screens, waiting for the moment when they would hold their daughters in their arms again.

The three women ran to their mothers, smiling with joy or sobbing with relief at finally being safe again after their horrendous time in captivity.

Emily was seen frantically looking around corners for her mother Mandy, who has campaigned tirelessly for her release since the 28-year-old was dragged from her home.

They then hugged and were finally reunited, and Emily told her mother “it was only because of you that I survived.”

Emily and Mandy then video called their brother and family, smiling with joy and waving with their bandaged hand.

The support staff surrounding the three women couldn’t stop smiling as they watched the touching scenes.

They are the first hostages released by Hamas as part of the ceasefire agreement. It puts an end to the traumatic 471 days that the terrorist group was held.

Emily Damari hugs her mother Mandy after being released

Romi Gonen and her mother smile as they reunite after the ceasefire agreement.

Romi Gonen and her mother smile as they reunite after the ceasefire agreement.

Doron Steinbrecher pictured in his mother's arms.

Doron Steinbrecher pictured in his mother’s arms.

Emily Damari arrives at Sheba Medical Center in Ramat Gan, Israel, to see her family

Emily Damari arrives at Sheba Medical Center in Ramat Gan, Israel, to see her family

Emily Damari (center) with her mother Mandy (in pink tights) and her family.

Emily Damari (center) with her mother Mandy (in pink tights) and her family.

Emily, Romi and Doron, along with their mothers, were loaded onto a helicopter and taken to Sheba Medical Center in Tel Aviv, where they were reunited with the rest of their families. They are said to be in good health.

They were greeted with cheers and signs, and other patients opened their windows to look down as they arrived.

Heartwarming footage saw the three women run into the arms of their relatives, with smiles and tears on either side.

Wrapped in an Israeli flag, Emily was seen hugging the rest of her family when she arrived at the hospital.

The Tottenham Hotspur fan, who was born in Israel to a British mother and Israeli father, was injured by shrapnel when she was kidnapped.

Hamas shot off two of her fingers and killed her beloved golden cockapoo Choocha when she was kidnapped from her home in Kibbutz Kfar Aza on October 7.

Emily’s mother issued a statement thanking those who “never stopped saying her name” before her release.

“I want to thank everyone who never stopped fighting for Emily during this terrible experience and who never stopped saying her name,” the mother said.

‘In Israel, Britain, the United States and around the world. Thank you for bringing Emily home.’

Emily Damari holds a sign that says in Hebrew. "The nightmare is over!" as she and freed Israeli hostage Doron Steinbrecher are transported to a hospital

Emily Damari holds a sign that says in Hebrew “the nightmare is over!” as she and freed Israeli hostage Doron Steinbrecher are transported to a hospital

When the former hostages were taken to the hospital, they were enveloped in hugs.

When the former hostages were taken to the hospital, they were enveloped in hugs.

Doron Steinbrecher (in pink), Romi Gonen (in black), Emily Damari (in green)

Doron Steinbrecher (in pink), Romi Gonen (in black), Emily Damari (in green)

When the van door opened, the three former hostages looked terrified, clutching horrible

When the van’s door opened, the three former hostages appeared terrified, clutching gruesome Hamas “gift bags” and running through the overwhelming crowd to safety.

Emily Damari greets friends and followers when she arrives at the hospital

Emily Damari greets friends and followers when she arrives at the hospital

A touching video showed her friends celebrating her release by jumping and singing music.

Emily’s best friend Guy Yakobi, 29, spoke of his relief and excitement after an agonizing wait to see if they would actually let her go.

‘We are very excited. All the Telegram rumors said that she was not on the list today,’ he said.

‘We have been through hell these last few hours and days. We haven’t slept. I was really nervous. I have been awake all night because of Hamas’s delay in giving the names.

‘We still have to process the fact that she is coming home, after these 15 months of hell.

‘We will cry together here. We’ve invited all of Emily’s best friends to the kibbutz and we’re going to watch the news together.

Revealing how he met her, he said: ‘I moved to Kfar Aza in sixth grade. My parents were the closest house to her, so our friendship began.

‘Emily is the best friend ever. If you want a friend who will do everything for you, if you need a friend who will be there just for you, this is Emily.

“Emily will do everything she can to make her friends happy and she truly is the best person I know.”

A drone view shows crowds as Palestinian Hamas militants prepared for the handover.

A drone view shows crowds as Palestinian Hamas militants prepare for the handover.

When their vehicle arrived, the poor women found hundreds of militants surrounding the van and shouting, banging on doors and windows.

When their vehicle arrived, the poor women found hundreds of militants surrounding the van and shouting, banging on doors and windows.

The 28-year-old broke her silence to say she is the “happiest person in the world” since being freed from Hamas captivity in Gaza.

‘Love, love, love. Thank God. Thanks to my family, to Orali, to the best friends I have in this world,’ he said in a post on Instagram. “I returned to my beloved life.”

‘I only managed to see a glimpse of everything and you broke my heart with emotion. Thank you, thank you, the happiest person in the world simply for being one.’

At the end of his post, he added a “stone” emoji, symbolizing the two fingers he lost when Hamas shot him during their October 7 assault.

The brave young woman’s defiant hand gesture upon her release has already become a symbol, with one supporter even having it tattooed on her calf.

In an inspirational video posted on

The clip cuts from the man’s leg to an iPad screen showing the outline of his new tattoo: Damari’s raised, bandaged hand showing his two missing fingers.

He captioned the post: “Emily Damari is officially an icon of resilience in Israel.”

Former hostage Romi, who was kidnapped at the Nova music festival, was enveloped in a group hug by her relatives and Doron sobbed as she hugged her relatives in the hospital hallways.

Doron’s family issued a statement through the Missing Families and Hostages Forum headquarters.

Doron Steinbracher with his mother Simone, hugging after his release

Doron Steinbracher with his mother Simone, hugging after his release

Emily happily waves her bandaged hand while video calling her relatives with her mother.

Emily happily waves her bandaged hand while video calling her relatives with her mother.

Wrapped in an Israeli flag, Emily jumped into the arms of her family at the hospital.

Wrapped in an Israeli flag, Emily jumped into the arms of her family at the hospital.

‘After 471 excruciating days, our beloved Dodo has finally returned to our arms. We want to express our most sincere gratitude to everyone who supported and accompanied us on this journey.

‘A special thank you to the people of Israel for their warm embrace, unwavering support and the strength they gave us during our darkest times. We also extend our thanks to President Trump for his important participation and support, which meant so much to us.

‘Our heroic Dodo, who survived 471 days in Hamas captivity, begins her rehabilitation journey today. “We will continue to support all families and do everything we can until all their loved ones return home.”

The three former hostages were horrifically forced to wear Palestinian flag lanyards and given ‘gift bags’ with mementos of their horrific time in captivity.

A sickening propaganda video released by Hamas showed the three women packed into a van, beaming because they were finally being freed and would soon see their families again.

They had lanyards hanging around their necks, decorated with text that said “Palestine” and the flag printed next to it.

Their smiles disappeared instantly when they were handed brown paper bags with the Hamas logo printed on the side and forced to hold them and pose for the camera.

When their vehicle arrived, the poor women found hundreds of militants surrounding the van and shouting and banging on doors and windows.

Some even climbed onto the roof.

Members of the Israeli medical and security personnel transport the three hostages upon arrival at the Sheba Tel HaShomer Medical Center.

Members of the Israeli medical and security personnel transport the three hostages upon arrival at the Sheba Tel HaShomer Medical Center.

People gathered to watch the military helicopter carrying three Israeli women hostage.

People gathered to watch the military helicopter carrying three Israeli women hostage.

People react as they watch news coverage of the release of Romi Gonen, Doron Steinbrecher and Emily Damar.

People react as they watch news coverage of the release of Romi Gonen, Doron Steinbrecher and Emily Damar.

When the van door opened, the three former hostages appeared terrified, grabbing their “goody bags” and running through the overwhelming crowd to safety.

The bags reportedly contained photographs of the women in captivity and a “certificate.”

The truce was delayed because the terrorist group did not provide the list of names 24 hours in advance, as indicated in the agreement.

Hamas attributed the delay to a 15-month pause in the war over a “technical” issue.

The Israeli army continued to carry out airstrikes in northern and central Gaza until the list was handed over, killing at least eight Palestinians, the Palestinian civil emergency service said.

The ceasefire began at 11:15 a.m. local time, almost three hours after the initial agreement, and displaced Palestinians were seen walking through the rubble as they returned to their homes.

Hamas militants brazenly came out of hiding to celebrate the new ceasefire with Israel, brazenly parading through the streets of Gaza while brandishing AK-47s and waving the group’s green flags.

Shocking images showed masked fighters dressed in camouflage and balaclavas, some standing in vehicles, others marching defiantly through cities that have been reduced to rubble after months of intense fighting.

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