Hamas has now handed it’s first three hostages to the Red Cross, as part of the first phase of its ceasefire agreement with Israel – including British-Israeli Emily Damari
Hamas has released three hostages, including a British-Israeli woman who has been held captive for 470 days.
A ceasefire deal, which promised the phased release of hostages as well as a pause in the 15-month Israel-Hamas war, was delayed on Sunday morning before coming into force at 9.15am UK time. And now, Hamas released three hostages at 3.20pm UK time, including British-Israeli Emily Damari, 28, along with Romi Gonen and Doron Steinbrecher.
The Red Cross says that the three Israeli hostages were transferred to them and are on their way toward IDF and ISA forces in the Gaza Strip. “The Red Cross has communicated that the three Israeli hostages were transferred to them and are on their way toward IDF and Israel Securities Authority forces in the Gaza Strip,” the Israeli military said in a statement.
The Israeli military had said it continued to attack inside the Gaza Strip following a dispute with Hamas over the names put back the start of the planned ceasefire. And it has emerged that an Israeli airstrike killed at least eight people in the Gaza Strip today.
Ms Damari was shot in the hand and leg when she was taken by Hamas militants in southern Israel during the October 7 attack. Emily’s mother Mandy Damari, who was born in Surrey, has been campaigning for her release along with twin brothers Ziv and Gali Berman, 27.
Earlier today a UK Foreign Office spokesperson said: “The UK Government welcomes the reports that British national Emily Damari is on the list of hostages to be released by Hamas today. We stand ready to support her upon her release. We urge both sides to implement all phases of the deal in full and for all hostages to be returned.”
Last week, Orly Goldschmidt, spokesperson for the UK’s Israeli embassy, told Sky News: “Emily Damari, a 28-year-old British-Israeli citizen, is still in the dungeon of Hamas, and we are asking for the international support, for the British support, to put pressure on Hamas to release her and the other 100 hostages. We will play our full part in the coming days and weeks, working alongside our partners, to seize this chance for a better future.”
In a statement, Damari family representative Emily Cohen said: “These final few hours have been the most agonising that you can imagine, after nearly 500 days of unending torment for Mandy and all the other families. Obviously this is amazing news for Mandy and Emily’s entire family, but she will only believe it when she actually gets to see Emily alive and give her that hug she’s been dreaming of. Being so close to that moment makes the pain even more intense.
“As a mother, seeing how Mandy has campaigned tirelessly for Emily for the past 471 days, has been utterly inspiring. I cannot begin to explain how brave and fearless she has been fighting for her daughter, pressuring world leaders and international organisations relentlessly and constantly.
“Given how unbearable the last few hours have been and the rollercoaster of emotions, please respect Mandy’s privacy at this very critical time. I know she wants everyone to know how deeply grateful she is to the British public, MPs, football supporters and strangers from around the world, who have been praying and campaigning for Emily’s release.”
Mandy has also described the past 15 months as “a nightmare, living a life like this.” She added: “What she’s been feeling there – who knows. It must have been ten times worse for her than it has been for me.”
Emily’s family also said she always remained “close to her British roots” and “loves visiting London”. She would go to gigs with her mother Mandy and saw artists including Ed Sheeran and Adele.
Mandy said: “When she was young, her favourite place was London Zoo … as she got older, she turned into a big foodie, always dragging us to her favourite restaurants. We’d go shopping in Primark and visit markets for a good bargain.”
Meanwhile Sir Keir Starmer has welcomed the Gaza ceasefire and hostage deal as “long-overdue news” and paid tribute to British citizens who were killed during the conflict in the Middle East.
The UK Prime Minister said Britain would join its allies in continuing work to “break the cycle of violence and secure long-term peace” for Israelis and Palestinians, which he said would be grounded in a two-state solution. He paid tribute to “those who won’t make it home – including the British people who were murdered by Hamas.”
At least a dozen British citizens and some 1,200 Israelis were killed the surprise Hamas cross-border attack on October 7 2023 which triggered months of fighting.
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