Freed British captive Emily Damari shared with the Mirror her plans to write a book detailing the 471 days she spent in Hamas captivity. She also intends to highlight her recovery post-release. The book is set for publication around October 7th, the anniversary of her freedom in 2023, when she was taken along with friends Ziv and Gali Berman.
Emily’s forthcoming book will debut in the UK, as confirmed by a close friend. She aims to acknowledge the support from her loyal British backers and Spurs fans who advocated for her release during her time in Hamas captivity. The release date is targeted for October 7th or shortly before. Following her freedom, Emily, along with her mother Mandy from Beckenham, South East London, attended a Spurs match.
Wearing a shirt from the club’s White Hart Lane era, Emily expressed her gratitude to supporters before the game, emphasizing the profound meaning they hold for her. The tell-all book will be published by Little Brown, recounting Emily’s abduction from her kibbutz by Hamas gunmen.
In a tragic event, Hamas militants kidnapped 251 individuals and caused the deaths of approximately 1,200 people in a single day, including some British nationals. On January 19, 2025, Emily, along with Romi Gonen and Doron Steinbrecher, were released by Hamas. Emily was taken from Kibbutz Kfar Aza, where her dog was killed, and she suffered hand injuries from Hamas gunfire.
Her defiant gesture of holding up her remaining fingers before a hand-saving operation became a symbol of resilience displayed across Israel and at Spurs matches. Emily, a dual British-Israeli citizen, now resides in Israel. She expressed relief upon hearing of the death of her Hamas abductor, Muhammad Nasr Ali Quneita, killed during an Israeli military operation in Gaza City on June 19. Emily emphasized the importance of holding accountable those responsible for the attacks.