A relative of freed British hostage Emily Damari said the last 471 days have been “a living nightmare”, adding that the joy of seeing her with her mother was “just overwhelming”.
Tony Moss, a second cousin of 28-year-old Ms Damari, said he had spoken to her mother Mandy since her release.
Emily Damari with her mother Mandy (Family/PA)
He told the PA news agency: “I’ve heard from her. I’ve had messages. Smiles. Huge relief.
“I know for Mandy, she’s over the moon. She’s got her baby back. But she won’t stop campaigning until the other hostages are out.”
Mr Moss, who said he has not met Ms Damari in person, was speaking during a small gathering of around 50 people at the Golders Green War Memorial in London on Sunday.
The group, which met to “spread love” around the release of the hostages, held banners reading “bring them back home now” and chanted “let them go”.
People at a gathering at the Golders Green War Memorial (PA)
On Ms Damari’s release, Mr Moss said: “(It’s) just overwhelming. Joyous. But it’s just the beginning. We need the other hostages out as well. So we can be happy today for Emily and other two, and their families. But this is just the beginning.
“(The last 471 days have been) a living nightmare really. I’ve been in touch with Mandy, her mum … She’s amazing. She’s so stoic.
“But it’s just been empty. It’s just been really difficult. There’s been an anxiety. We’re carrying an anxiety around with us for the last 471 days. For Emily and for all the hostages and the whole situation.”
Emily Damari was held hostage in Gaza (Family/PA)
Despite Hamas naming Ms Damari as one of three hostages to be released in the first step of a ceasefire agreement, Mr Moss said he “couldn’t get excited or joyous” until he knew she was in the arms of her mother.
He added: “It was a very fragile situation. Anything could’ve happened. So I didn’t feel any joy until I saw her in the arms of her mum a few hours ago.”
When asked what his message would be to families who still have relatives in Gaza, he said: “Hang in there. There’s always hope. Dreams come true.”