‘Dr Hamas’ sewed my nerves together, says freed hostage

Emily Damari, the British-Israeli erstwhile hostage, described however a medic calling himself “Dr Hamas” sewed her nerves unneurotic portion operating connected gunshot wounds to her manus aft she was kidnapped successful the October 7 attack.

Ms Damari said she had “embraced” the symptom and scars arsenic she posted pictures of herself astatine an Israeli infirmary wherever she had corrective country pursuing her release.

Thanking the Israeli aesculapian squad for helping her connected the roadworthy to recovery, she described however she was taken to the notorious Al Shifa infirmary successful Gaza by Hamas militants during her kidnapping. Israel has agelong accused Hamas of utilizing Shifa arsenic a base.

She said a surgeon determination introduced himself arsenic “Dr Hamas” earlier putting her nether anaesthetic.

“And past this infinitesimal arrived – they enactment maine successful the operating country with a assemblage successful beforehand of me, I spot the bluish entity that should person been grey connected a time similar this. I inquire God to support me.

“Then I woke up erstwhile ‘Dr Hamas’ informed maine that I had 2 fingers missing and the coiled connected my ft remained unfastened with 4 stitches alternatively of 16.”

She said she has present undergone a bid of “complex operations” to her manus and limb aft returning to Israel successful January pursuing 471 days successful captivity.

“I person afloat embraced my hand, my pain, and my scars. To maine they correspond freedom, anticipation and strength,” Ms Damari, 29, said, holding up her wounded limbs astatine Sheba Medical Centre successful cardinal Israel.

Mandy Damari, Emily’s mother, said that her girl had been “sewn up similar a pin cushion” by Hamas, causing important symptom some successful her manus and leg.

Her manus would ne'er “fully recover”, Ms Damari said, “but the aggravated symptom I had for a twelvemonth and a fractional owed to the nerves being sewn unneurotic aft my archetypal cognition successful Shifa infirmary is present nary longer with maine and the ample scar, that was caused by an open, festering coiled that did not heal for 4 months due to the fact that of the conditions of the tunnels I was held in, is present looking better.”

Israel operated extensively successful and astir the Shifa infirmary successful the opening of the war, accusing Hamas of operating from determination and holding hostages.

The IDF would aboriginal uncover that Hamas had built extended tunnels nether the hospital, and Ms Damari’s grounds present confirms that the panic radical besides held hostages here.

Ms Damari told Sir Keir Starmer soon aft her merchandise that she was kept successful tunnels, with nary sanitation oregon entree to cleanable water, and receiving nary aesculapian assistance for her terrible injuries different than an out-of-date vessel of iodine.

“It is thing abbreviated of a occurrence that she did not declaration a life-threatening infection,” her parent said.

Ms Damari besides commented connected the information of immoderate of the different Israeli hostages who had been released, saying it was “shocking but not astonishing to spot however emaciated immoderate of the different hostages were erstwhile they came out”.

“Although my injuries were not simple, I cognize that determination are others inactive successful captivity who are successful overmuch worse signifier than I am, physically and mentally. Every remaining hostage indispensable travel location without immoderate further delay. Hamas has created hellhole connected Earth, the conditions down determination are unimaginable,” she added.

Ms Damari said that with the assistance of physiotherapy she hoped to beryllium capable to usage her manus “much much effectively” than was antecedently possible.

“The country successful my manus and limb went overmuch amended than expected, acknowledgment to the expertise and professionalism astatine Sheba Medical Centre. I would similar to convey the surgeons, the nurses and the unit astatine the hospital, for the unthinkable attraction I’ve received,” she said.

Ms Damari has been invited by Sir Keir Starmer to sojourn Downing Street: “After I retrieve from my surgeries, and aft the remaining hostages are each released, I volition beryllium truthful excited to travel backmost to Britain. I person truthful galore radical that I privation to convey personally for helping maine get my beingness back.”

As a lifelong Tottenham Hotspur fan, Ms Damari says she is determined to marque the travel to London and convey her chap fans who were heard to chant during games “Bring Emily Home” portion she was a captive.

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