Hostage's Brother Recounts Tense Period, Relationship With Captor's Partner

Tom Damari, brother of Emily Damari, who was released from Hamas captivity, revealed tense moments from the period of struggle in an interview for the podcast "HOT TALK," coinciding with the release of the documentary "Segel Hasar." Damari discussed the initial post by food blogger Daniel Amit, who later became his sister's partner, and his strong reaction to it. Damari explained that the family maintained a low profile due to Emily's service in the Border Police. When Amit posted online that the hostages had prepared her well-known recipe, fears for Emily's safety intensified. "I sent her a message: 'You are endangering her, take it down immediately,'" Damari recounted, noting that Amit deleted the post right away. Damari further described how this initially tense acquaintance became an integral part of the family's life after his sister's release. He recalled Emily telling him about their relationship during her rehabilitation at Kibbutz Kfar Aza, saying, "I told her as long as she is happy, that's what's important, seeing her smile is worth everything. Since then, we are completely fine."

Beyond his relationship with Amit, Damari shared the heavy emotional toll of the prolonged wait for release deals. He described the daily uncertainty and rumors circulating on social media, calling it "upsetting, walking on the ground and feeling like you're in hell. On Telegram, they write that there's a deal tomorrow, and then you wake up in the morning and find out nothing is happening." Damari also criticized the frequent meetings with political officials, which the family referred to as "booty calls," where each side spoke without achieving practical results. He admitted that the struggle took a heavy toll on his household, stating, "All those days Emily was missing, I neglected my wife and my daughters; we put everything aside."

A further complex issue raised in the interview concerned the guilt and caution required when interacting with bereaved families in Kibbutz Kfar Aza. "You can't really be happy or shout as much as you want," Damari explained, "because there are people who didn't get to see their loved ones return, and their eyes will never be the same as we knew them." He stated that the only place where the emotional burden could be released was on the football field, as part of the kibbutz's soccer team. "The grass was our psychologist," Damari noted, explaining that the game allowed team members to focus on pure athletic activity, briefly disconnect from difficult thoughts, and find strength to continue coping.