Official UK government reports or credible news outlets

Mother of British Hostage Emily Urges UK to Act One Year After Hamas Kidnapping

Oct 6, 2024, 08:24 AM

One year after the abduction of British-Israeli citizen Emily Damari by Hamas militants in Gaza, her mother, Mandy Damari, has made a heartfelt plea for her daughter's release. Emily, 28, was kidnapped from her home in Kfar Aza on October 7, 2023, after being shot in the hand; her dog Choocha was shot dead during the attack, and she was taken to Gaza in her own car. Mandy, speaking publicly for the first time, has met with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, handing him a letter and urging the UK government and public to support efforts to secure Emily's freedom. She expressed her anguish, stating, "It's a year since Hamas took away my beautiful girl... my heart is breaking a little more every day. Soon there will be nothing left of my heart—or Emily." Emily, a Tottenham Hotspur fan, is the only British hostage still held in Gaza, and her mother's appeal highlights concerns that her plight has been forgotten.