Freed hostage Emily Damari’s wounded hand swiftly becomes symbol of Israeli defiance

Ex-captive’s mom shares photo showing her daughter’s unbandaged hand after she lost two fingers in Oct. 7 attack; Emily and her supporters use ‘rock on’ emoji to celebrate her return

Mandy Damari (left) and her daughter, released hostage Emily Damari, on January 21, 2025. (Mandy Damari/X)
Mandy Damari (left) and her daughter, released hostage Emily Damari, on January 21, 2025. (Mandy Damari/X)

The mother of freed hostage Emily Damari on Tuesday posted a new photo of the two of them together following her daughter’s return to Israel this week, showing Emily’s hand unbandaged after she lost two fingers when 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 the Surrey-born, London-raised Mandy Damari.

In some of the first pictures the family cleared for publication after her release, Emily, a dual Israeli-British citizen, was seen waving her bandaged left hand in a phone call to her relatives, in an image widely seen as emblemizing her courage and resilience.

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

In an Instagram post on Monday, the released hostage, 28, wrote that the outpouring of love and support had 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 post was signed with the “rock on” emoji, in a nod to the gesture her hand now permanently makes, which has become a new Israeli icon.

Soon after the images were published, supporters added bandages to the “rock on” emoji, transforming Damari’s injury into a symbol of defiance. Mandy Damari added the emoji to her handle on the social network X.

The most widely circulated version was made by Aviad Amergi, an Israeli sneaker artist, who posted it on Instagram along with the words, “A great small victory.” His followers quickly requested that he turn it into a sticker for WhatsApp, the messaging platform that is massively popular in Israel, where it soon circulated widely.

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

The Israeli soccer play Ohad Hazut made the sign with his hands after a win on Monday, writing on Instagram, “An important victory.”

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

Together, the symbol is emerging 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 a ubiquitous symbol of advocacy for the hostages.

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

Some — including Lihi Lapid, the writer who is the wife of Yair Lapid, the Israeli parliamentary opposition leader — have also noted that the configuration of Damari’s remaining fingers is the same as the sign for “I love you” 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 her friends and family but soon shared much more widely. “I have returned to my beloved life.” She ended her post with the “rock on” emoji.

Released hostages (L-R) Doron Steinbrecher, Emily Damari and Romi Gonen reunite with their mothers shortly after returning to Israel after 471 days in Hamas captivity in Gaza, January 19, 2025. (IDF)

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

“There is life after death,” Gonen wrote.

The post includes a photo of Gonen and her mother embracing after her return to Israel. “I can’t believe I’m screenshotting right now… sometimes dreams come true.”

“I wanted to stop a moment and say thanks to the people of Israel, my family and friends,” Gonen continued. “The prayers and strength you sent accompanied us the entire way and helped us believe this nightmare will ultimately end.”

“It will take more time to process and thank you all. It must be remembered that there are 94 more hostages in Gaza who are dying for us to save them. The people of Israel live and with the help of God we’ll continue to receive good news in the coming weeks.”

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