“She is one of our own; she is one of our own. Emily Damari, bring her home,” Tottenham Hotspur fans sang on Saturday as they gathered outside the soccer club’s stadium in north London before their Premier League match against Aston Villa.
Wearing yellow scarves and carrying leaflets with her picture on them, at least 70 campaigners stood outside, sang and chanted as fans filled the stadium. Damari holds both British and Israeli citizenship.
British citizen EMILY DAMARI is a @SpursOfficial supporter. She has also been a Hamas hostage in Gaza for over a year. @bringhomenow pic.twitter.com/g55SxfyCVE
— Natalie Lisbona (@NatalieLisbona) November 3, 2024
Damari, then 27 years old, was abducted from her home at Kibbutz Kfar Aza on Oct. 7, 2023. Hamas terrorists shot her beloved pet Choocha, a golden cockapoo, in her arms, and the attack left her with a gunshot wound to the hand.
Stop the Hate UK organizer Itai Galmundy told the Jewish News weekly newspaper: “The whole point of us coming here today as British football fans is to raise awareness with British people about the plight of a British young lady who has been held for over a year in the dungeons of Hamas. That’s why we are coming to talk to them.”
Galmudy continued, “Like any other British person, she likes to go to the pub, to have a pint, she likes to have a cup of tea, she likes dry humor and she loves the Spurs.
“We believe the British public is just not aware of this problem and we regard it as a British problem. It’s got nothing to do with Israel. It’s got nothing to do with the fact that she’s a Jew. It only has to do with the fact that she’s a fellow Brit. And they need to know that we have to bring her home. That’s why we are going to Tottenham today.”
Emily’s mother, Mandy Damari, said, “I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to everyone who came together at the Spurs stadium to raise awareness for Emily. The unity and dedication shown in sharing her story was both powerful and deeply moving. The chant, the stickers, the spirit and the energy at the stadium were incredible, creating a moment that not only went viral here in Israel but also touched hearts across the world.”
A total of 101 hostages remain captive in Gaza, including 97 taken during the Hamas-led invasion of the northwestern Negev 13 months ago.
