Freed Israeli hostage Emily Damari: 'Back to my life, I'm the happiest person in the world'

Yesterday, I was finally able to give Emily the hug that I have been dreaming of,

her mother Mandy Damari also said Monday in a statement released by the Hostage and Missing Families Forum, which has been advocating for the release of the captives

Thank you, thank you, thank you, I'm the happiest in the world just to be."

In a post on Instagram, Emily Damari, 28, also wrote

As wonderful as it is to see Emily’s resilience, these are still early days. As you will have seen yesterday, Emily lost two of the fingers on her left hand,

Mandy Damari also said

I am relieved to report that after her release, Emily is doing much better than any of us could ever have anticipated,

her mother continued

The ceasefire must continue and every last hostage must be returned to their families,

she added

Our heroic Dodo, who survived 471 days in Hamas captivity, begins her rehabilitation journey today.”

In a statement on Sunday, they said

The fear is that some of the hostages will be in a situation of total psychological collapse and that they will return in a critical condition,

Rahabi said

This time, after [more than 470 days of detention], it's going to be horrible,

he said, predicting drastic weight loss of up to "half or a third" of original body weight

It will take me, for us, a moment to breathe it in and believe in the reality we achieved together.”

Meirav Leshem Gonen said in a post on Facebook on Monday morning

From the bottom of my heart I would like to thank the many people who have played a role in bringing Emily home and given their support to me and my family,

she said in a statement

Let me just first, obviously say how pleased and delighted I am that Emily Damari has emerged,

he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme on Monday

I'm back to my life, my loved ones, I'm the happiest person in the world. I'm grateful to my family and my best friends."

Emily Damari, who was released on Sunday from Hamas captivity, posted her first public response on social media, writing

There is no time to lose,

Fletcher wrote

During the process of checking the names of the prisoners being released from Ofer prison, there was found to be one female prisoner missing.”

The Hamas statement said

Thank God, I am here with my family, I’m satisfied,

she said

It was like, when we tried to hold our heads high, the guards would do their best to hold us down,

she said

Keir Starmerprime Minister

The release of three hostages today is wonderful and long-overdue news after months of agony for them and their families

UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said

David Lammyforeign Secretary

We welcome the release of three hostages in Gaza, including British national Emily Damari, and thank Qatar, Egypt and the US for their support in bringing these individuals' and their families' horrific ordeal to an end

Mr Lammy said

I want to thank everyone who never stopped fighting for Emily throughout this horrendous ordeal, and who never stopped saying her name,

the mother said

I'm happy to report that they are in stable condition

A member of the hospital staff said