Former Hamas Hostage Emily Damari Shares Harrowing Details of Captivity

Emily Damari, who was held captive by Hamas for 471 days in Gaza, has revealed new, graphic details and images from her ordeal. The photos, collected during an IDF operation in Gaza, show Damari on an operating table at Shifa Hospital shortly after her abduction. She described the horrific conditions, stating, "I am in a disgusting room full of blood, a body on the floor next to me." Damari recounted an encounter with a "doctor" who introduced himself as "Dr. Hamas," surrounded by armed men, while she prayed for survival. She revealed that she sustained a gunshot wound to her leg during her abduction, which continued to bleed for four months with an open wound. Stitches that should have been removed after 14 days remained in her hand for a year. Damari expressed gratitude for her survival, thanking God, her family, security forces, and the Israeli public for their continued efforts to bring hostages home. She also acknowledged fellow hostage Romi Gonen. Damari lost two fingers on her hand, which became a symbol of her captivity, and her dog was killed during the October 7th attack. Her mother previously stated that Damari was "sewn up like a pincushion" by Hamas, causing severe pain. Despite the high risk of infection from her untreated wounds, Hamas reportedly provided no medical care beyond an expired bottle of iodine.