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Why Emily Damari Is My Hero
Former hostage Emily Damari is reunited with her mother, on Jan. 19, 2025. Credit: Israel Defense Forces Spokesperson’s Unit.
We think of heroes as soldiers who risk their lives for their country, firefighters who run into burning buildings while others run out, and police officers who try to protect people and know their lives are on the line.
But in my book, you can also be a hero by inspiring people and overcoming great obstacles or traumatic events. I thought of that when I saw the picture of freed hostage Emily Damari, who gave a “rock on” sign with her hand, as she had lost two fingers after being shot in the Hamas terrorist attack of October 7, during which she was abducted.
Last week, I went to the Anne Frank Exhibition in Manhattan and I suggest everyone that can, goes there. I thought about what Anne must have thought, knowing that her family could be found by the Nazis at any time. And yet despite this, one has to try to continue to live.
I thought of what Damari must have gone through, and how easy it must have been to give up any hope of surviving or being freed. Channel 12 in Israel reported that Damari asked her captors to free an older male hostage before her, because he was in “worse shape.”
That is a person of unbelievable strength, more so, perhaps, than someone who can bench press 600 pounds. Imagine having the chance to be freed after 15 months, and saying someone else should be freed first. This deal could fall apart at any time, so if for whatever reason, this man was released before her, that would mean Damari was taking a risk on never being released.
There are many people in life who talk about being unselfish, but this is a level that we have not seen.
Her photo is one of defiance, and one that promotes life. I’ve spoken with relatives whose loved ones were murdered by Hamas and to see some go free is wonderful, regardless of whether one thinks the deal was the correct move by the Israeli government.
I doubt the women kidnapped by Hamas had an opportunity to write any diary like Anne Frank did. The world should have learned from her diary — that people should not be killed or taken hostage or have to hide because of their religion.
There are Hamas murderers going free, and while it is naïve to think they won’t do it again, I hope that they take a chance on a life without violence. There are also Palestinians who have suffered and opposed Hamas’ invasion of Israel on October 7, but speaking out against Hamas could get them killed.
I wondered if Anne Frank is in heaven to look down and see the rise of antisemitism, if she would say people need to realize that hate only destroys.
I wonder what words Anne Frank would have written if she lived, but luckily, Damari will be able to share her thoughts, though we should never expect the whole truth from freed hostages while there are others still in captivity.
As a teacher, I always tried to promote positivity, and there is a fine line between looking on the bright side of things and being naïve. The reason Anne Frank’s diary is read by many is that six million Jews is a statistic — but the story of one Jewish girl personalizes it. Damari is an example of this on a smaller scale; that she could raise her hand that was mutilated and bandaged shows a strength that few have.
After her release, Damari said that she came back to life. I hope so.
Perhaps a movie will be made about Damari’s experience. She is my hero.
The author is a writer based in New York.
The post Why Emily Damari Is My Hero first appeared on Algemeiner.com.
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After False Dawns, Gazans Hope Trump Will Force End to Two-Year-Old War
Palestinians walk past a residential building destroyed in previous Israeli strikes, after Hamas agreed to release hostages and accept some other terms in a US plan to end the war, in Nuseirat, central Gaza Strip October 4, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Mahmoud Issa
Exhausted Palestinians in Gaza clung to hopes on Saturday that US President Donald Trump would keep up pressure on Israel to end a two-year-old war that has killed tens of thousands and displaced the entire population of more than two million.
Hamas’ declaration that it was ready to hand over hostages and accept some terms of Trump’s plan to end the conflict while calling for more talks on several key issues was greeted with relief in the enclave, where most homes are now in ruins.
“It’s happy news, it saves those who are still alive,” said 32-year-old Saoud Qarneyta, reacting to Hamas’ response and Trump’s intervention. “This is enough. Houses have been damaged, everything has been damaged, what is left? Nothing.”
GAZAN RESIDENT HOPES ‘WE WILL BE DONE WITH WARS’
Ismail Zayda, 40, a father of three, displaced from a suburb in northern Gaza City where Israel launched a full-scale ground operation last month, said: “We want President Trump to keep pushing for an end to the war, if this chance is lost, it means that Gaza City will be destroyed by Israel and we might not survive.
“Enough, two years of bombardment, death and starvation. Enough,” he told Reuters on a social media chat.
“God willing this will be the last war. We will hopefully be done with the wars,” said 59-year-old Ali Ahmad, speaking in one of the tented camps where most Palestinians now live.
“We urge all sides not to backtrack. Every day of delay costs lives in Gaza, it is not just time wasted, lives get wasted too,” said Tamer Al-Burai, a Gaza City businessman displaced with members of his family in central Gaza Strip.
After two previous ceasefires — one near the start of the war and another earlier this year — lasted only a few weeks, he said; “I am very optimistic this time, maybe Trump’s seeking to be remembered as a man of peace, will bring us real peace this time.”
RESIDENT WORRIES THAT NETANYAHU WILL ‘SABOTAGE’ DEAL
Some voiced hopes of returning to their homes, but the Israeli military issued a fresh warning to Gazans on Saturday to stay out of Gaza City, describing it as a “dangerous combat zone.”
Gazans have faced previous false dawns during the past two years, when Trump and others declared at several points during on-off negotiations between Hamas, Israel and Arab and US mediators that a deal was close, only for war to rage on.
“Will it happen? Can we trust Trump? Maybe we trust Trump, but will Netanyahu abide this time? He has always sabotaged everything and continued the war. I hope he ends it now,” said Aya, 31, who was displaced with her family to Deir Al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip.
She added: “Maybe there is a chance the war ends at October 7, two years after it began.”
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Mass Rally in Rome on Fourth Day of Italy’s Pro-Palestinian Protests
A Pro-Palestinian demonstrator waves a Palestinian flag during a national protest for Gaza in Rome, Italy, October 4, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Claudia Greco
Large crowds assembled in central Rome on Saturday for the fourth straight day of protests in Italy since Israel intercepted an international flotilla trying to deliver aid to Gaza, and detained its activists.
People holding banners and Palestinian flags, chanting “Free Palestine” and other slogans, filed past the Colosseum, taking part in a march that organizers hoped would attract at least 1 million people.
“I’m here with a lot of other friends because I think it is important for us all to mobilize individually,” Francesco Galtieri, a 65-year-old musician from Rome, said. “If we don’t all mobilize, then nothing will change.”
Since Israel started blocking the flotilla late on Wednesday, protests have sprung up across Europe and in other parts of the world, but in Italy they have been a daily occurrence, in multiple cities.
On Friday, unions called a general strike in support of the flotilla, with demonstrations across the country that attracted more than 2 million, according to organizers. The interior ministry estimated attendance at around 400,000.
Italy’s right-wing government has been critical of the protests, with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni suggesting that people would skip work for Gaza just as an excuse for a longer weekend break.
On Saturday, Meloni blamed protesters for insulting graffiti that appeared on a statue of the late Pope John Paul II outside Rome’s main train station, where Pro-Palestinian groups have been holding a protest picket.
“They say they are taking to the streets for peace, but then they insult the memory of a man who was a true defender and builder of peace. A shameful act committed by people blinded by ideology,” she said in a statement.
Israel launched its Gaza offensive after Hamas terrorists staged a cross border attack on October 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people and taking 251 people hostage.
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Hamas Says It Agrees to Release All Israeli Hostages Under Trump Gaza Plan
Smoke rises during an Israeli military operation in Gaza City, as seen from the central Gaza Strip, October 2, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Dawoud Abu Alkas
Hamas said on Friday it had agreed to release all Israeli hostages, alive or dead, under the terms of US President Donald Trump’s Gaza proposal, and signaled readiness to immediately enter mediated negotiations to discuss the details.