The devastated mother of the only British-Israeli hostage still being held by Hamas in Gaza yesterday fought back tears as she told of her fears her daughter could be raped, tortured and left for dead in the tunnels beneath the war-torn Strip.
Holding her first televised news conference, Mandy Damari, 63, told how she was living her “worst nightmare” as she awaited news of her incarcerated daughter Emily, 28, who has been held for more than 400 days.
She was taken hostage by the Palestinian terror group from southern Israel during the 7 October attacks last year.
Speaking in London after meeting Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and other British political leaders, an emotional Mrs Damari said: “Every day is a death sentence for her in Gaza. Her situation is dire and she desperately needs to be released, along with every other remaining hostage.
“From what we do know the hostages have been hidden down in Hamas’ terror tunnels in the networks and are being held in shocking conditions without any shred of compassion or mercy.”
And she warned: “Any number of causes could kill Emily – disease, starvation, dehydration, torture, execution or even friendly fire. I’m also terrified that Emily and the other female hostages are exposed to the constant threat of sexual assault.
“Hamas has a record of using rape as a weapon of war against women that must be condemned in every corner of the world.”
Mrs Damari, who was born in Surrey, was in London to plead for help from the government to secure the release of hostages.
She has already held meetings with senior politicians, including the Prime Minister, David Lammy, Kemi Badenoch and Nigel Farage this week.
She said her daughter, a Tottenham Hotspur fan who “liked a pint or two”, used to visit London with her mother each Christmas.
Mrs Damari said hearing Spurs fans calling out her daughter’s name at recent matches had heartened her.
“She loves Spurs so much, she watched them on the TV all the time,” she said.
Between 60 and 97 hostages are still thought to be alive in Gaza, though Hamas also holds the bodies of tens more killed during the conflict between Israel and the Iran-backed group.
Hamas gunmen shot Emily and killed her dog when they attacked Kibbutz Kfar Aza almost 14 months ago.
Mandy also hid as Hamas stormed her home and was only saved when one of the bullets jammed the lock of the room she was hiding in.
About 1,200 people were killed that day, while Emily and 250 others were taken back to Gaza as hostages.
The US, Egypt and Qatar have spent months working on a deal to secure the release of the up to 97 remaining hostages in return for a ceasefire in Gaza.
But the negotiations have stalled, with Hamas and Israel blaming each other for the impasse.
Mrs Damari said she was hopeful that the return of Donald Trump as US President could herald progress in getting the remaining hostages released.
Without directly mentioning Hamas or Gaza, Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social earlier this week: “Everybody is talking about the hostages who are being held so violently, inhumanely, and against the will of the entire world, in the Middle East – but it’s all talk, and no action!”
“If the hostages are not released prior to January 20, 2025, the date that I proudly assume office as President of the United States, there will be ALL HELL TO PAY in the Middle East, and for those in charge who perpetrated these atrocities against humanity,” he warned.
Mrs Damari said the post “gave me a bit of hope that maybe someone does really care about what’s going on there”.
“Someone has to do something and take strong action to get them released. And that’s the strongest thing I’ve heard anyone say for a long time.”
She said she hoped Trump would do everything in his power to get her daughter and the other hostages released.
