Former Israeli hostage Emily Damari concealed her identity as a Border Police fighter to survive Hamas captivity

Former hostage Emily Damari (now 28) was serving as a Border Police (Magav) fighter with the rank of Sergeant Major when she was kidnapped by Hamas terrorists on Oct. 7, 2023, Ynet News reported on Thursday after the information was cleared for publication. During her 471 days in captivity in Gaza, Damari managed to conceal her military background from her captors.

Damari was abducted from her home in Kibbutz Be’eri, one of the hardest-hit Israeli communities during the Hamas assault on southern Israel. Before her abduction, Damari served in an elite Border Police unit in Hebron, a politically volatile city in Judea (the West Bank) where Hamas and other Islamist groups maintain strong support among the local population.

The newly released information was confirmed by an April 2023 interview with Damari at Yedioth Ahronoth’s State Women’s Conference, where she spoke on the “Fighters on the Frontline” panel about the challenges faced by women serving in combat units.

"You always need to prove ourselves a little more," she said at the time, concerning the Magav unit where women make up nearly half (45%) of the total personnel.

"If I could, I would instruct female fighters specifically... they're here because they wanted to. The male fighters are there because they have to," Damari continued.

The interview clip featuring Damari was reportedly taken offline shortly after her abduction to protect her identity. Hamas is known to have treated hostages with military or security backgrounds more harshly than other captives.

Damari credited her brother Ben, a platoon commander, for inspiring her and other siblings to serve in combat units.

"He dragged all the other siblings after him," she recalled. Damari said her decision to serve in a combat role was also strengthened by the fact that she resides in a community close to the Gaza border. "I feel exactly the same as them, the mission, the desire," she added.

While receiving support from her brothers, she admitted that women need to fight harder to secure a place in an elite combat unit. "You need to work very hard to get to Magav...It's very challenging," she said.

Damari also addressed how her British mother reacted to her decision to join the combat unit, saying, "Luckily, she's English," cooler and less army-familiar, yet quietly worried.”

Damari ultimately chose to serve in a combat role, saying it is important for her and other women to "develop and express ourselves, to realize all our potential." She has a clear message for those who dream about serving in combat roles. "Prove yourselves, give more... Don't show weakness."

Last month, Damari spoke with Hassan Yousef, also known as the “Green Prince,” about her long captivity in Gaza and her meeting with Hamas leader Izz al-Din al-Haddad. Yousef grew up as the son of a Hamas leader, but later in life rejected Hamas, choosing to support Israel and convert to Christianity.

Damari said that Yousef’s book about Hamas helped her understand the mentality of her captors and her difficult experience in captivity.

“When I got [back] here the first week, I said to one of my brothers, I really want the book 'Son of Hamas,’” Damari said. “I've never been able to read, but with this book I got to the point where I was reading 60-70 pages in a row,” she added.

“When you’re there, and you see and experience what was there, these people, these monsters, and when you read this thing and learn from it, you say, ‘Wow, that's how they think, that's how they see,’” she explained. “Everything connects, it's like it's true. What's written there – it brings me back,” she continued.