THIS is the touching moment the first three hostages freed by Hamas terrorists become emotional after finally being reunited with their mothers.
Footage released by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) shows British hostages Emily Damari, Romi Gonen and Doron Steinbrecher hugging their mothers after surviving 471 days of hellish captivity.
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They were the first three Israeli hostages released in the first phase of the ceasefire and hostages agreement between Israel and Hamas.
Moving moments followed his arrival at Israelwhere their mothers hugged them at an Israel Defense Forces reception center.
Emily smiled with joy as she hugged her mother and told her, “I survived my life because of you.”
Another image showed Emily, bandaged but defiant, waving her injured hand in a powerful gesture of resilience.
Israeli hostage Romi was seen crying as she excitedly asked, “Where is my mom?”, before hugging her tightly.
The couple burst into tears, hugging each other.
Doron Steinbrecher smiled when he was finally reunited with his mother.
The trio’s release was nearly derailed when Hamas delayed providing their names, prompting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to accuse the group of violating the terms of the ceasefire.
Emily said that she He is “the happiest person in the world” in the first instagram released after 15 months in captivity.
She wrote: “I’m loving, loving, loving. Thank God. Thanks to my family, to Oreli, to the best friends I have in this world. I have come back to life, my loved ones.
“I have managed to see just a little bit of everything, and you have destroyed my heart with emotion. Thank you, thank you, thank you. “I am the happiest person in the world, just for being that.”
Her mother, Mandy Damari, gave an emotional first statement following her daughter’s release.
He praised the international effort that secured his daughter’s freedom and thanked the soldiers who “fought and gave their lives,” international leaders and the thousands of volunteers who campaigned tirelessly for Emily’s safe return.
Mandy, 63, said on Monday: “I am delighted to be able to tell you that Emily is in great spirits and on the road to recovery.
“As you may have seen last night, she is an incredibly strong and resilient young woman.”
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In her plea to the world, the mother added: “Please keep fighting for the remaining 94 hostages who need to return home.
“Hostages in Gaza must have access to humanitarian aid while they wait to be released.”
Emily was kidnapped during the devastating Hamas assault on a kibbutz on October 7.
He suffered horrific injuries when militants broke into his home and shot his dog Choocha in his arms before turning their guns on him.
They shot off two of her fingers and dragged her into captivity.
For more than a year, Emily endured unthinkable conditions in underground tunnels, described by freed captives as places of “torture, isolation and fear.”
He couldn’t eat or move without permission.
What happened on October 7?
HAMAS launched a brutal surprise attack on Israel, marking one of the darkest days in the nation’s history.
The terrorists stormed across the border from Gaza, killing more than 1,200 people (most of them civilians) and kidnapping another 250, including women, children and the elderly.
In the coordinated assault, heavily armed fighters infiltrated Israeli cities, kibbutzim and military bases, unleashing indiscriminate violence.
Innocent families were massacred in their homes and graphic images of the atrocities spread on social media, leaving the world in shock.
And in addition to attacking people in their homes, they stormed the Nova peace music competition, killing at least 364 people there alone.
The massacre triggered a rapid and massive retaliatory response by Israel, leading to a full-scale war.
The attack not only reignited long-standing tensions in the region, but also left deep scars on both sides of the conflict, setting the stage for the 15 months of devastation that followed.
Last week, a historic ceasefire agreement was reached between Israel and Hamas.
All the hostages are now expected to be released in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.
The detailed plan has been divided into three phases and is expected to last weeks.
Four more hostages will be returned on the seventh day and then each week for a four-week period.
The next release of hostages and prisoners is scheduled for Saturday.
Finally, in the sixth week, 14 hostages will be returned from a group of 33 made up of 12 women and children, 10 men over 50 years of age and 11 younger men.
Negotiations will resume to secure the release of 65 hostages still in Gaza on the 16th day of the ceasefire.
