In a poignant interview, Mandy Damari expresses her daily fears for the life of her daughter Emily, the only British-Israeli hostage held by Hamas, as she calls for increased humanitarian efforts and government action amidst stalled negotiations for the hostages' release.
Desperate Plea: Mother of British Hostage in Gaza Calls for Urgent Action
Desperate Plea: Mother of British Hostage in Gaza Calls for Urgent Action
Mandy Damari fears for her daughter, Emily, the only British-Israeli hostage held by Hamas for over a year, urging the UK government for more humanitarian aid and action.
Mandy Damari, whose daughter Emily has been held hostage by Hamas for over 400 days, has articulated her deep concerns regarding her daughter’s well-being. Emily was taken from her home in southern Israel during a violent attack on 7 October 2023. In her first on-camera interview, Mandy stated, “I fear that she's dead... if she's not dead, she could be ill, she's not getting enough food to eat, and she has suffered gunshot wounds.”
The situation is understandably distressing for Mandy, who described her constant worry, fearing for Emily’s life “every second.” Following the attack on Kibbutz Kfar Aza, where about 1,200 people died, Emily and 250 others were taken back to Gaza as hostages. Mandy recalled that the attack also left her hiding for safety; a bullet jammed the lock of her hiding spot, allowing her to escape.
She has now turned her focus to the British government, urging it to do more to facilitate humanitarian aid to the hostages while negotiations continue for their release. Recently, she expressed support for statements made by U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, who warned Hamas of “hell to pay” if hostages are not released before he takes office in January. This strong statement gave her a glimmer of hope that perhaps someone was taking the issue seriously.
Mandy highlighted her disappointment with the British government, especially regarding its backing of a recent UN Security Council resolution that called for a ceasefire in Gaza without a prerequisite for the hostages' release. She articulated: “There was no prerequisite to release the hostages... It was basically signing a death warrant for her.”
She continued to press for action from the British government, stating, “I really need the British government... at least to get her humanitarian aid or a sign of life.” This call for action underscores her desire for the UK to prioritize the well-being of hostages, a subject she feels is overshadowed by broader discussions focusing on humanitarian aid in Gaza.
Mandy initially refrained from public appeals, trusting diplomatic efforts would lead to her daughter’s release. However, she feels a responsibility to be the voice for her daughter, who can’t call out for help herself. Furthermore, the scale of suffering in Gaza, as highlighted by the loss of over 44,500 lives since the October attacks, adds to the complexity of her situation. As the world watches, Mandy Damari’s hopes lie in urgent humanitarian support and action from her government to save her daughter.
