Freed British captive, Emily Damari, has shared with the Mirror her plans to write a book detailing her harrowing 471-day ordeal in Hamas captivity. Alongside recounting her time in confinement, she will also cover her remarkable recovery post-release. Announcing on the first anniversary of her freedom, Emily revealed that the book is scheduled for publication around October 7th, the date she was abducted in 2023 from her Kibbutz with friends Ziv and Gali Berman. She commenced writing the book after the Bermans were freed in a prisoner exchange deal late last year.
A close friend disclosed that Emily’s book will be initially released in the UK as a tribute to her loyal British supporters and fellow Tottenham Hotspur fans who advocated for her release during her time in Hamas captivity. The plan is to launch the book on or just before October 7th. Following her release, Emily, accompanied by her mother Mandy from Beckenham, South East London, attended a Spurs match, expressing gratitude to her supporters before the game.
The tell-all book, to be published by Little Brown, will shed light on Emily’s abduction from her Kibbutz by Hamas gunmen. In a tragic incident, Hamas abducted 251 individuals and caused the death of approximately 1,200 people in a single day, including some British nationals and local Arab Israelis. On January 19, 2025, Hamas released Emily, 28, along with two other Israeli hostages, Romi Gonen, 24, and Doron Steinbrecher, 31, who were taken from Kibbutz Kfar Aza.
Emily, who holds both British and Israeli citizenship, currently resides in Israel. She made headlines for her defiant V-sign gesture, displaying her remaining fingers before undergoing a hand-saving surgery, which became a symbol of resilience on walls in Israel and outside Spurs football matches. Emily expressed satisfaction upon learning that her Hamas captor was killed, emphasizing the need for accountability for the attacks. Gunman Muhammad Nasr Ali Quneita, who abducted Emily during the 2023 Israel attacks, was targeted and killed by the Israeli military in Gaza City on June 19.
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