British-Israeli Emily Damari said she was “resurrected” in her first comments since being imprisoned in Gaza.

On October 7, 2023, the 28-year-old woman was shot in the hand and dragged from her home in southern Israel.

She was one of the first three hostages to be released on Sunday as part of a long-awaited rescue operation after 471 days in captivity. Israel and Hamas reach ceasefire agreement.

In an Instagram post after her release from prison, Emily also wrote, “I love, I love, I love,” and thanked God, her family and “my closest friends in the world.”

She also said she was able to see some of the reactions to her release on Sunday and said “it affected my heart,” according to a Hebrew translation of the message.

At the bottom of the message, Emily added a hand emoji with two fingers curled. She was shot in the hand during her arrest and lost two fingers.

She will be released along with Romi Gonen, 24, and Doron Steinbrecher, 31, among more to be released over the next six weeks if the ceasefire is upheld. The first of items released. In exchange, 90 Palestinian prisoners were released.

The operation to release the hostages will continue until a total of 33 people have been returned, in exchange for the release of some 1,900 Palestinians.

In March 2024, Emily’s family was told she was alive, but no information about her condition has been given since then.

Her mother, Mandy, who has been fighting for her release, said in a statement that her daughter is doing much better than expected since her release.

She said she was excited to “give the world a glimpse of Emily’s vibrant and charismatic personality” during her release.

“Yesterday, I was finally able to give Emily the hug I had always dreamed of,” Mrs. Damari said.

“I am grateful from the bottom of my heart to the many people who contributed to bringing Emily home and provided support to me and my family.”

“While it’s great to see Emily’s recovery, it’s still early days,” she added. “She now needs time with her loved ones and her doctors as she begins her recovery.” road”.

British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said the release of the three hostages was “fantastic and long overdue”.

Meanwhile, Foreign Secretary David Lamy told BBC Radio 4’s Today program that he was “very pleased and delighted” to hear Emily’s words following her release and ” Very emotional” — who grew closer to her family after their ordeal.

Lamy added that it was important to recognize that there were still hostages being held and that British nationals, such as Nadav Papplewellalready dead.

Lawyer Adam Ross, who represents the hostage families including Emily, said she “seemed to be brimming with joy” but that her release would be “an ecstatic moment, but not for the rest of the hostage families who have yet to come out.” There will be further torture and fear.”

Among those still imprisoned are others with close ties to Britain. They include Eli Chalabihe was taken hostage in an attack on October 7, 2023, in which his wife and two daughters were killed.

It is unclear whether he is still alive, and the 34 hostages still held by Hamas are presumed dead. His brother Yossi was also taken hostage and later killed in captivity in what Hamas said was the result of an Israeli airstrike.

The fate of Oded Lifschitz, 84, the father of British-Israeli citizen Sharone Lifschitz, also remains unknown. Her mother Jocheved, Oded’s wife of many years, Released over a year ago as part of an early hostage release agreement

Describing her feelings while waiting for news about her father, Sharon told the BBC’s Woman’s Hour programme: “I’m fine. We’ve been used to a mixture of joy and absolute terror and pain since October 7.”

She said it was “pure joy” to see the three women released on Sunday, adding that while she knew “there will be more heartache” the moment the families were reunited was “beautiful”.

Avinatan Or, whose mother is a British-Israeli citizen, was kidnapped at the Supernova music festival with his girlfriend Noa Argamani. She was rescued from central Gaza in June 2024 and revealed that they were separated during the kidnapping.