Mandy Damari, whose daughter Emily has been held captive in Gaza for over 400 days, is desperate for action from the British government to ensure her daughter's survival and secure aid for hostages.
Mother of British Hostage in Gaza Calls for Urgent Action and Aid
Mother of British Hostage in Gaza Calls for Urgent Action and Aid
Mandy Damari pleads for assistance in getting humanitarian supplies to her daughter, the only British-Israeli hostage in Gaza.
Emily Damari, just 28 years old, was seized by Hamas during an attack on her home in southern Israel on October 7, 2023. Her mother, Mandy, has recently expressed grave concerns about the declining health and well-being of her daughter in a public plea for humanitarian aid. After almost 14 months without news, Mandy worries daily as she fears the worst may have already happened to Emily.
Mandy, a Surrey native, shared her heartbreak during a recent interview, stating, “I fear that she's dead. If she's not, she’s not getting enough food, and I worry every second about her fate.” She described Emily’s injuries from gunfire sustained during the brutal attack on Kibbutz Kfar Aza, where her dog was also killed.
Amid stalled negotiations for the release of hostages, which includes Emily among the 97 still captured, Mandy has now turned her attention to calling the UK government to action. Despite previous trust in governmental efforts, she feels let down by a recent UN Security Council resolution that she believes lacks urgency for releasing hostages. “It felt like they were stabbing me in the heart,” she lamented, emphasizing the need for a stronger stance that prioritizes hostage release alongside any ceasefire discussions.
Adding some relief was a statement from US President-elect Donald Trump, who threatened severe repercussions if hostages were not released before he took office. Mandy remarked that the words gave her hope that someone might take decisive action for their release, urging the British government to follow suit.
The anguish of Mandy Damari extends beyond her daughter; she represents a collective pain of the families who have lost loved ones in the ongoing conflict, with over 44,500 lives lost in Gaza since the escalation began. She has now made it her mission to raise awareness that her daughter is a dual citizen, compelling the public to recognize her plight and the urgency for greater governmental efforts.
She concluded her plea with a heartfelt request: “I need the British public to understand that my daughter is the only British hostage, and she deserves to be seen and heard. We need to advocate for her release and support the humane treatment of hostages.”
Mandy, a Surrey native, shared her heartbreak during a recent interview, stating, “I fear that she's dead. If she's not, she’s not getting enough food, and I worry every second about her fate.” She described Emily’s injuries from gunfire sustained during the brutal attack on Kibbutz Kfar Aza, where her dog was also killed.
Amid stalled negotiations for the release of hostages, which includes Emily among the 97 still captured, Mandy has now turned her attention to calling the UK government to action. Despite previous trust in governmental efforts, she feels let down by a recent UN Security Council resolution that she believes lacks urgency for releasing hostages. “It felt like they were stabbing me in the heart,” she lamented, emphasizing the need for a stronger stance that prioritizes hostage release alongside any ceasefire discussions.
Adding some relief was a statement from US President-elect Donald Trump, who threatened severe repercussions if hostages were not released before he took office. Mandy remarked that the words gave her hope that someone might take decisive action for their release, urging the British government to follow suit.
The anguish of Mandy Damari extends beyond her daughter; she represents a collective pain of the families who have lost loved ones in the ongoing conflict, with over 44,500 lives lost in Gaza since the escalation began. She has now made it her mission to raise awareness that her daughter is a dual citizen, compelling the public to recognize her plight and the urgency for greater governmental efforts.
She concluded her plea with a heartfelt request: “I need the British public to understand that my daughter is the only British hostage, and she deserves to be seen and heard. We need to advocate for her release and support the humane treatment of hostages.”
