Full Breakdown
Emily Damari Shares Captivity Photos on Three-Year Anniversary
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event: Instagram Post Reveals Hospital Conditions
On the Hebrew holiday of Simchat Torah, three years after her abduction, former hostage Emily Damari posted previously unreleased photographs from Shifa Hospital in Gaza. The images show her lying on an operating table, surrounded by armed men, and a “doctor” who introduced himself as “Dr. Hamas.” In the caption she described the room as “disgusting,” with a corpse on the floor and ten armed militants pointing Kalashnikovs at her head.
Background & Context: Oct. 7 Attack and Hostage Experience
During the Oct. 7 attack, Hamas militants entered Kibbutz Kfar Aza, killing, assaulting and abducting dozens of residents, including Damari. She was shot in the hand, losing two fingers, and sustained a shrapnel wound to her leg. She remained in Gaza for 471 days, released as part of a hostage-release cease-fire agreement on January 19, 2025.
Data & Statistics: Duration of Captivity and Injuries
- Captivity length: 471 days.
- Hand injury: loss of two fingers; stitches intended for removal after 14 days remained for 365 days.
- Leg wound: open gunshot wound that continued bleeding for four months.
Official Statements & Responses
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson’s unit confirmed that the photographs were recovered during IDF operations in Gaza and released to illustrate the medical neglect faced by hostages.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Three years ago at this time on Simchat Torah I was deep, deep in the Gaza Strip,” — Emily Damari, hostage survivor
- “I'm in a disgusting room full of blood; there is a corpse on the floor next to me. A 'doctor' approaches and introduces himself as Dr. Hamas, [accompanied by] ten more monsters with Kalashnikovs [pointed] at my head,” — Emily Damari, hostage survivor
- “People who understand a little about medicine can look at the pictures and understand that the fact that I’m here at all is a miracle,” — Emily Damari, hostage survivor
- “Three years ago at this hour, on Simchat Torah, I was deep, deep inside the Gaza Strip,” — Emily Damari, hostage survivor
Impact and Personal Milestones
Following her release, Damari became a public symbol of resilience, often raising her missing-finger hand in victory. In August 2026 she married Israeli food influencer Danielle “Dani” Amit in Tel Aviv, a ceremony attended by numerous former hostages, including Romi Gonen, Doron Steinbrecher, Liri Albag, Danielle Gilboa, Omer Shem Tov, Keith and Aviva Siegal, and Gali and Ziv Berman. Her mother, Mandy Damari, recalled that her daughter had been “stitched up like a pincushion,” leaving her with severe pain in both hand and leg.
What’s Next
Damari continues to share her story publicly, using social media to raise awareness of the conditions endured by hostages and to advocate for improved medical care for victims of conflict.