Injured hand of freed hostage Emily Damari quickly becomes symbol of Israeli defiance

The mother of freed hostage Emily Damari posted a new photo Tuesday of the two of them together after her daughter returned to Israel this week, showing Emily’s hand unbandaged after she lost two fingers when she was shot by Hamas terrorists on October 7, 2023.

“Thank you to everyone in the UK and around the world who supported the campaign to bring Emily home, and for all your messages here on X. You are amazing and we love you all,” tweeted Mandy, born in Surrey and raised in London. Damari.

In some of the first photos allowed for publication by the family after her release, Emily, a dual Israeli-British citizen, was seen waving her bandaged left hand during a phone call to her relatives, in an image widely considered iconic of his courage and resilience. .

The gunmen who burst into her home on Kibbutz Kfar Aza on October 7, 2023, shot her dog, she reportedly told family and friends during her first conversations with them Sunday evening, and she was also hit as she tried to comfort him. his pet dying.

In an Instagram post Monday, the freed hostage, 28, wrote that the outpouring of love and support made her heart “burst with excitement.”

“Thank you, thank you, thank you,” she wrote. “I’m the happiest in the world just to be.”

Emily’s message was signed with the “rock on” emoji, a nod to the gesture her hand now makes constantly, which has become a new Israeli icon.

Thank you to everyone in the UK and around the world who supported the campaign to bring Emily home, and for all your messages here on X. You are amazing and we love you all????

94 hostages still need us ????️???? pic.twitter.com/nuRVj6n8tt

—Mandy Damari ???????? (@DamariMandy) January 21, 2025

Shortly after the images were posted, fans added bandages to the “rock on” emoji, turning Damari’s injury into a symbol of defiance. Mandy Damari added the emoji to her handle on the social network X.

The most widely shared version was made by Aviad Amergi, an Israeli sneaker artist, who posted it on Instagram with the words “A big little victory.” His subscribers quickly asked him to make a sticker for WhatsApp, the very popular messaging platform in Israel, where it quickly circulated widely.

Others have also adapted Damari’s gesture. A drawing of Damari’s hands demonstrating the Jewish priestly blessing circulated online, with words taken from the biblical blessing: “May God bless you and keep you.” » The drawing has been attributed to Moshe Shapira, a Jerusalem artist and architect, whose son Aner was killed in the October 7 attack after saving the lives of others.

Israeli footballer Ohad Hazut made the hand sign after a victory on Monday, writing on Instagram: “An important victory.”

And at least one Israeli even had the image etched onto his leg like a tattoo, according to a video shared by pro-Israel influencer Hen Mazzig.

Emily Damari is officially an icon of resilience in Israel ???? pic.twitter.com/vGf8nHAVWx

– Hen Mazzig (@HenMazzig) January 20, 2025

Together, the symbol appears as a companion to “We Will Dance Again,” the refrain adopted by survivors of the Nova music festival massacre, as a show of resilience for Israelis traumatized by the October 7 atrocities. It also joins the yellow ribbon, which has become an omnipresent symbol of hostage defense.

“There are many symbols of victory, this is my symbol,” Israeli artist Nemo Shiff tweeted alongside several renditions of Damari’s hand. “To me, it symbolizes survival and courage against all odds.”

Some – including Lihi Lapid, the writer who is the wife of Yair Lapid, the leader of Israel’s parliamentary opposition – have also noted that the configuration of Damari’s remaining fingers is the same as the “I love you” sign. in American Sign Language.

Damari herself channeled both interpretations in her first Instagram post after returning to Israel. “’Love, love, love,’ she posted, in a video visible to friends and family but soon shared much more widely. “I have returned to my beloved life.” She ended her message with the “rock on” emoji.

Damari was released on Sunday alongside Doron Steinbrecher, 31, and Romi Goren, 24, the latter of whom also shared her first Instagram post on Tuesday since her release from Hamas captivity.

“There is life after death,” Goren wrote.

The post includes a photo of Gonen and his mother kissing after returning to Israel. “I can’t believe I’m taking a screenshot right now… sometimes dreams come true.”

“I wanted to stop for a moment and thank the people of Israel, my family and my friends,” Goren continued. “The prayers and strength you sent were with us along the way and helped us believe that this nightmare would eventually end. »

“This will take longer to process and thank you all. We must not forget that there are 94 other hostages in Gaza who are dying for us to save them. The people of Israel live, and with God’s help, we will continue to receive good news in the weeks to come.”