Former British-Israeli hostage Emily Damari, who endured 471 days of captivity in Hamas tunnels, married her influencer girlfriend Danielle Amit in Tel Aviv on Thursday.
Damari, 30, and Amit, 36, met in the months following Damari's release in January 2025. Their relationship became public in June of that year, and they announced their engagement in January 2026.
Damari was kidnapped from her kibbutz on October 7, 2023, sustaining injuries that included two missing fingers and a bullet lodged in her leg. She spent over a year in pain while being moved through Gaza's tunnel network, sometimes confined to cages with other captives.
She was among 32 hostages freed last year in a ceasefire agreement. A photograph of her defiantly posing with her injured hand gained international recognition as a symbol of resilience.
Mandy Damari, Emily's mother, spoke at the wedding, describing the ceremony as a celebration of life, love, and hope. "There are moments in a parent's life when you look at your child and realise just how far they have travelled," she told guests, reflecting on the uncertainty of Emily's captivity. "Tonight, looking at Emily standing beside Dani, is one of those moments."
Amit, an Israeli food influencer known for her homemade recipes, wore a white lace gown, while Damari donned an ivory double-breasted suit. Both outfits were designed by Israeli fashion designer Oria Azran.
The wedding ceremony included an intimate dinner for close family and friends, followed by vows exchanged beneath a chuppah, a traditional Jewish wedding canopy. Their dog, Mayo, also joined the couple. The celebration continued with music, dancing, and festivities. Attendees included several of Damari's former fellow hostages, notably twin brothers Gali and Ziv Berman, who were taken captive at the same time.
