Emily Damari, a British-Israeli woman and former hostage of Hamas, attended England’s World Cup group-stage match against Panama on Saturday in New Jersey, marking her first time watching captain Harry Kane play since her release. Damari, 29, was abducted in October 2023 during the Hamas attacks on the Kfar Aza kibbutz. She was taken alongside twins Gali and Ziv Berman, both 28, who are close friends and fellow football enthusiasts.

During the attack, Damari was shot in her left hand, resulting in the loss of her middle and ring fingers. After 470 days in captivity, she was finally freed, while the Berman brothers endured a total of 738 days before their release. The trio reunited to support England in their final group game, where Kane—formerly of Tottenham Hotspur and now playing for Bayern Munich—scored England’s second goal in a 2-0 victory. Kane’s goal set a new record, making him England’s highest scorer in World Cup history with 11 goals.

On social media, Damari shared photos of herself celebrating with England flag face paint and expressed gratitude for the moment. She reflected on her previous meeting with Kane during his time at Tottenham in 2023 and said it was meaningful to see him now playing for England on the world stage. Damari is preparing to marry Danielle Amit this summer.

A source close to the group described the scene at the match as a “beautiful” moment, highlighting the significance of the friends coming together to support the Three Lions after their prolonged ordeal. The shared passion for football provided a sense of normalcy and joy amid the difficult circumstances they experienced.