On Friday, Mrs Damari lit the Shabbat candles to mark the start of the Jewish sabbath. Behind the candles a picture of her daughter with a British flag at the side of the picture. Her prayers: that this would be the last Shabbat Emily would be held as a hostage.

Emily Damari, a British-Israeli dual national, was one of the three women released on Sunday under a ceasefire deal between Hamas and Israel.

Emily Damari, 28, is a British-Israeli dual national whose mother has campaigned tirelessly for her release since she was kidnapped by Hamas militants in October 2023.