After enduring 471 days in Hamas captivity, Emily Damari and Romi Gonen demonstrated remarkable courage by leaving their hospital beds to visit Hostage Square in Tel Aviv for the first time. Both women had been receiving treatment at Sheba Tel Hashomer Hospital following their release on January 19, 2025.
In an Instagram post, Damari shared their spontaneous decision:
“Time is running out! Yesterday at 12 a.m., in the rehabilitation department of Sheba Tel Hashomer Hospital, Romi and I decided that we couldn’t take it anymore. We left the hospital bed and went to Hostage Square—for the first time. One square with so much strength, emotion, hope, and prayers. I want to thank everybody again for everything you have done for us.”
Kidnapping and Captivity
Emily Damari, a 28-year-old British-Israeli national, was abducted from her home in Kibbutz Kfar Aza during Hamas’s incursion on October 7, 2023. She sustained gunshot wounds to her left hand and right leg while attempting to comfort her dying dog, which had been shot by the terrorists. Due to inadequate medical treatment during her captivity, she lost two fingers.
Romi Gonen, then 24, was kidnapped while fleeing the Nova Music Festival on the same day. She and her friends attempted to escape in a car driven by Ben Shimoni, who had already returned twice to rescue others. Tragically, Shimoni was killed during this attempt, and Gonen was taken captive.
Both women endured severe conditions during their captivity, including confinement in underground tunnels with limited access to daylight, fresh air, or basic necessities. Despite these hardships, they demonstrated extraordinary resilience.
Release and Reunion
Their release on January 19, 2025, was part of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas. They were among the first hostages freed in this deal, which also included the release of 90 Palestinian prisoners.
Upon their return, both women were hospitalized at Sheba Medical Center in Tel Aviv, where they reunited with their families and began their physical and emotional recovery.
A Bond Forged in Adversity
The bond between Gonen and Damari deepened during their captivity. Gonen’s mother, Leshem Gonen, noted: “There’s a connection between them; they’re people who saved each other’s lives.”
Their visit to Hostage Square stands as a powerful testament to their resilience and the enduring hope for the safe return of all those still held captive.
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