Emily Damari, a former hostage, has shared harrowing details of her captivity by Hamas, including a moment when she considered killing her captor with his own weapon. Damari, who was abducted during the October attack on Kibbutz Kfar Aza, described the violence she endured, the loss of her dog, and the severe injuries she suffered. She recounted being held in multiple locations, including a bombed house and an underground cage, alongside other hostages, and spoke of the emotional toll of isolation, abuse, and the constant threat to her life.
Damari highlighted the strong bond she formed with fellow hostage Romi Gonen, as the two supported each other through their ordeal. She also revealed the psychological torment inflicted by some of the families who held them captive, who tried to convince the hostages they had been forgotten. After her release during a ceasefire-hostage deal, Damari has become a vocal advocate for the remaining captives, urging world leaders to secure their freedom and expressing frustration at the slow progress.
She made a passionate plea for urgent action to free the remaining hostages, including her close friends Gali and Ziv Berman, emphasizing the dire conditions they likely face. Damari stressed that only the return of all hostages would allow families and survivors to begin healing from the trauma.