Maccabi Tel Aviv fans were moved on Thursday when midfielder Dor Peretz scored against Norway in an away match. Maccabi Tel Aviv played against Boda Glimt where Peretz dedicated the goal to freed hostage Emily Damari. Damari, who was released earlier this week from Hamas captivity along with Romi Gonen and Doron Steinbrecher quickly became a new symbol with her mutilated hand. Peretz made a similar gesture to honor Emily.
Damari lost two of her fingers when she was kidnapped from her home on October 7. Three days ago, Hapoel Petah Tikva player Ohad Hazut also made a similar three-finger gesture to honor Damari when he scored a goal in his team's 3:0 victory over Hapoel Acre in the National League.
Damari is known as a fan of Maccabi Tel Aviv and the UK's Tottenham Hotspurs. After her release, the Maccabi Tel Aviv team celebrated and congratulated her: "Our Emily is back home! We waited, we prayed for 471 days for your return and today our hearts are filled with joy that you are back with us, together with Romi Gonen and Doron Steinbrecher."
Fans of the London team were very active and held several events and demonstrations on her behalf. Two days after her release, Damari thanked them for their activity.
Get the Ynetnews app on your smartphone: Google Play: https://bit.ly/4eJ37pE | Apple App Store: https://bit.ly/3ZL7iNv
During Maccabi Tel Aviv's game in Norway, a demonstration by pro-Palestinian elements against Israel took place outside the stadium. The same protesters waved Palestinian flags and called on UEFA to "remove Israel from the organization."