For the first time, a freed Israeli hostage shares her experience of captivity by Hamas and how she has resumed her life.

One of the three Israeli hostages freed by Hamas is sharing her experience of spending nearly 500 days in captivity, stating that she has "resumed my normal life."

Emily Damari, 28, expressed her gratitude in an Instagram post, saying, "I'm the happiest in the world just to be."

On October 7, 2023, Damari, a dual Israeli-British citizen, lost two fingers in a Hamas attack on Israel. According to the Associated Press, citing authorities, she is now in stable condition after being released from the Gaza Strip on Sunday.

Mandy Damari, Emily's mother, shared that she was finally able to give Emily a hug she had been dreaming of, as she stated Monday in a release from the Hostage and Missing Families Forum, which has been advocating for the release of captives.

"Emily's mother stated that after her release, Emily is doing better than anyone could have predicted. In her own words, Emily is the happiest girl in the world and has her life back."

While Mandy Damari described her daughter's release as a joyful moment for their family, she also emphasized the importance of not forgetting that 94 other hostages are still being held captive.

She emphasized the need for the ceasefire to persist and for all hostages to be reunited with their loved ones.

"Although it's inspiring to witness Emily's resilience, these are still the early stages. As you saw yesterday, Emily lost two fingers on her left hand. She now requires time with her loved ones and doctors as she embarks on her journey to recovery, as Mandy Damari stated."

On Sunday, as part of a cease-fire agreement, Hamas released Damari, one of three hostages.

In exchange, Israel released 90 Palestinian prisoners in the West Bank.

Two other Israeli hostages who were freed were identified as Doron Steinbrecher, 31, and Romi Gonen, 24.