Content creator Daniel Amit and former hostage Emily Damari gave their first joint interview on Sunday night to Guy Pines’ "Late Night with Guy Pines," speaking about their relationship, their wedding in less than three months, and plans for a family. The pair, who recently landed a joint campaign, said the romance began unexpectedly after they met at a special gathering for female hostage survivors.
Amit said she still finds it hard to believe what happened, and recalled that she and Damari were drawn to each other during the event, which also included Romi Gonen and Mia Regev. Damari said she had followed Amit’s cooking content for years and had repeatedly made Amit’s pasta before her abduction to Gaza. After October 7, Amit learned from people cooking for displaced residents of Kibbutz Be’eri that a hostage named Emily admired her, and later discovered they had already exchanged messages online, with Damari often writing first.
Their connection grew through Instagram messages, then phone calls and video chats. Amit said she originally thought it would be a short fling, but began waiting for Damari’s messages. Damari said one text, sent the day after they exchanged numbers, stood out in particular, when Amit wrote that she was eating steak. The pair said the relationship deepened while Damari was in Thailand and they spoke early in the morning, leading them to realize there was something serious between them.
Amit said she initially kept the relationship secret, fearing public reaction and that it could complicate her future dating life. Damari said neighbors started noticing them, including when people saw them walking the dog at 3 a.m. Amit also recalled that Damari’s family was initially wary about publicizing the relationship while Damari was still in captivity, and that Damari’s brother Tom once asked her to delete a post because it could endanger Emily. The tension is now behind them, and Damari has already proposed. Amit said the couple wants to build a home in Israel and have children there, adding, "I want her to know I want to be with her for my whole life."
