Liberated Hostage Emily Damari: “We Stood for the Siren — From Captivity in Gaza”

Emily Damari, a survivor of Hamas captivity, shared a particularly powerful moment she experienced while being held hostage: standing for the Memorial Day siren.

“Never forget those who risked their lives so we could continue living in our country”
“Last year on this day, I was in captivity. It’s a day I will never forget,” Damari wrote in a story she posted today (Tuesday) on her Instagram account. “When the terrorists turned on Al Jazeera, we realized Memorial Day had arrived. We decided to stand at 11:00 a.m. for a minute of silence in memory of the fallen, who in their deaths commanded us to live — for our soldiers who gave their lives,” she added.

Despite the harsh conditions and unimaginable reality, Damari said they insisted on marking the national day of remembrance: “To be in captivity, in the darkest, lowest, and worst place imaginable, to stand for a minute of silence and not forget those who risked their lives so we could continue to live and exist in our country — it was one of the most powerful moments I experienced,” she wrote.

“For the hostages, for Gali and Ziv, and for the security forces”
It is worth noting that last week we reported on Emily Damari’s selection to light a torch at the Independence Day ceremony on Mount Herzl. On her Instagram account, Emily shared that she would be lighting the torch “for the hostages, for Gali and Ziv, and for the security forces.”

Following her selection, Minister Miri Regev, who is responsible for the ceremony, said: “Emily is an exceptional Israeli hero who captured all our hearts and became a symbol of inspiration and triumph. Her steadfastness in the face of the hardships of captivity, and the tremendous resilience she showed upon her return, are a moving testament to the strength of the Israeli spirit and the hope that beats within it. Choosing Emily reflects our immense appreciation for the bravery of the survivors of captivity and our commitment to the swift return of all 59 of our brothers and sisters still being held in the Gaza Strip.”