British-Israeli Emily Damari, who spent 471 days as a hostage in Gaza, celebrated her freedom by watching her football hero Harry Kane play for England in the World Cup on Saturday. The 29-year-old England fan attended the match against Panama in New Jersey, where Kane scored the second goal in a 2-0 victory, becoming England's record World Cup scorer with 11 goals.
From Captivity to the Stands
Emily was kidnapped by Hamas terrorists from Kfar Aza kibbutz during the October 7 attacks in 2023. During the attack, she was shot in her left hand, losing her middle and ring fingers. She was held captive for 471 days before being released. Her friends Gali and Ziv Berman, twins aged 28, were also taken and endured 738 days in captivity before their release. The three are close friends and huge football fans.
Emotional Reunion with Kane
Emily last saw Harry Kane in 2023 when he played for her beloved Tottenham Hotspur. Now playing for Bayern Munich, Kane netted the second goal against Panama. Writing on Instagram, Emily shared photos of herself in England flag face paint and said: "Thank god for every little thing." She added: "I came to see him in 2023 playing for Tottenham, now I'm here to see him playing in the World Cup for England."
A Celebration of Freedom
The trio were all in the crowd at MetLife Stadium, with the Berman brothers supporting Liverpool. Emily, who is due to marry Danielle Amit this summer, appeared to be having an amazing time. A source said: "These three people were kidnapped together and endured the horror of captivity. Now they are together again as a vision of freedom and courage. It’s a beautiful thing that the three of them were there supporting England, it’s amazing."
