Former British hostage Emily Damari has announced her upcoming book detailing the harrowing 471 days she endured under Hamas captivity. The book will also highlight her inspiring recovery post-release, with a planned publication date around October 7th, the anniversary of her freedom in 2023.
A close friend of Emily revealed that the book will debut in the UK as a tribute to her loyal British supporters and Tottenham Hotspur fans who advocated for her release during her time in Hamas captivity. The release date is set for October 7th or shortly before. Emily and her mother attended a Spurs match post-release, where Emily, clad in a vintage club shirt, expressed her gratitude to the supporters, referring to them as her family.
The tell-all book, to be published by Little Brown, will shed light on the traumatic experience of Emily being abducted from her kibbutz by Hamas militants. Notably, Hamas kidnapped 251 individuals and claimed the lives of approximately 1,200 people in a single day, including some British nationals and local Arab Israelis.
On January 19, 2025, Hamas released three Israeli hostages, including Emily Damari, Romi Gonen, and Doron Steinbrecher. Emily, then 28 years old, was seized from her residence in Kibbutz Kfar Aza, where her dog was fatally shot, and she sustained injuries to her hand. Her defiant V-sign gesture before a surgery to save her hand became a symbol of resistance in Israel and at Spurs matches.
Emily holds dual British-Israeli citizenship and currently resides in Israel. She expressed satisfaction upon hearing the news of her Hamas captor’s demise during a targeted military operation in Gaza City. Emily emphasized the importance of accountability for such actions, hoping for more positive developments in the future.