What we know British-Israeli hostage set to be released today
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British-Israeli woman Emily Damari is finally set to be released today after spending the past 15 months as Hamas's hostage. The 28-year-old's release, alongside fellow female hostages Romi Gonen, 24, and 31-year-old Doron Steinbrecher, is part of the opening phase of the Gaza ceasefire deal which began on Sunday morning.
Ms Damari was in her own apartment in Kfar Aza kibbutz in Israel - two miles from the Gaza border - when she was abducted during the 7 October Hamas attack. They entered her home and shot her golden cockapoo Choocha dead and shot her, according to her mother Mandy Damari.
Her mum said she was "shot in the hand, injured by shrapnel in her leg, blindfolded, bundled into the back of her own car" and driven back into Gaza. Follow live updates on the Gaza ceasefire. She has remained hidden in the war-torn country since then. British-Israeli woman among first three hostages Hamas plans to release today.
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Ms Damari, the youngest of four siblings, is a joint UK and Israeli citizen who was born and raised in Israel. Her mother Mandy Damari, born in Addington, Surrey, said her daughter "adores" coming to visit the UK annually and describes it as her "second home across the sea".
