Tottenham Hotspur fans demanded the release of a British Hamas hostage as they chanted ‘she’s one of our own’ over a year after she was captured by the militant group.
Football fans gathered outside the Tottenham Hotspur’s stadium in north London on Saturday as they called for the release of Emily Damari.
Sharing leaflets with the hostages photo, the Stop the Hate UK rally involved some 70 campaigners and took place between 11:30am and 2pm.
Damari, who marked her 28th birthday in captivity this year, was a big Spurs fan and, according to the Jewish Chronicle, enjoyed watching the football and drinking beer with her friends.
‘When we say “she’s one of our own”, we’re referring to the fact that she’s not only a Spurs fan, she’s a fellow Briton,’ said Stop the Hate UK organiser, Itai Galmudy.
The Tottenham Hotspur fan, Emily Damari, 28, is still being held under the watch of Hamas terrorists after she was kidnapped on October 7
Football fans gathered outside the Tottenham Hotspur’s stadium in north London on Saturday as they called for the release of Emily Damari
Sharing leaflets with the hostages photo, the Stop the Hate UK rally involved some 70 campaigners and took place between 11:30am and 2pm
‘She likes dry humour, she likes a cup of tea with milk, she likes downing pints in the pub, and she happens to like Spurs as well,’ he added.
The campaigners at Saturday’s Spurs match wore yellow ribbons around their necks, a common symbol displayed by campaigners for the hostages in Israel.
Outside the stadium in the run-up to the match, the echoes of their chant rang out: ‘She’s one of our own, she’s one of our own, Emily Damari, bring Emily home.’
Following the powerful display of solidarity with Damari, the 28-year-old’s mother shared her gratitude for those who came out to demand the immediate release of her daughter.
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.
Pictured: A man walks past a giant billboard featuring portraits of Israeli hostages held in Gaza since the October 7 attack
Pictured, British hostage Emily Damari who still remains in Gaza after the October 7 Hamas terror attack
‘From the opening to the closing moments of the match, Emily’s spirit truly resonated, bringing hope and positivity to all of us. And let’s not forget—she certainly brought Spurs the luck they needed! 4-1!
‘This was a beautiful display of solidarity and kindness, reminding us of the power we have when we come together for a meaningful cause.
‘Thank you to every single person involved, from those who organised to those who chanted, shared, and supported. You’ve made an incredible impact, and I couldn’t be more grateful.
‘Maybe Emily come home soon!’
Alongside 100 other captives, the Tottenham Hotspur fan is still being held under the watch of Hamas terrorists.
On October 7 last year Damari was taken from her home of Kibbutz Kfar Aza near the Gaza border, where she was born and raised.
Her beloved golden cockapoo, Choocha, was shot dead in her arms, while the attack left her with a gunshot wound to the hand.
She was kidnapped alongside twin brothers Ziv and Gali Berman, 27, and remains somewhere in the Gaza Strip, deep underground in a tunnel.
The British-Israeli citizen was abducted on October 7 last year from Kibbutz Kfar Aza, near Israel’s border with Gaza
Emily (left), pictured with her mother Mandy, is the only British hostage still being held in Gaza by militant group Hamas following the attacks on Israel just over a year ago
Just months before the terror attack, Emily travelled to White Hart Lane to watch her beloved Tottenham Hotspurs play.
A spokeswoman for Israel’s UK embassy earlier this month urged the international community to do more to influence Hamas into releasing Emily and the other hostages.
Orly Goldschmidt told Sky News: ‘Emily Damari, 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’re talking about a festival that was here for people from all around the world – Israelis, Muslims and other faiths.
‘They came to celebrate love and to dance, and they were targeted by Hamas terrorists in such a brutal way that I think no one will ever forget.’
When asked whether the Israeli military could have arrived sooner on the day, she said: ‘I understand the trauma of those families, and that’s something that will be investigated.
‘All I can say for now is that we mourn with those families and our thoughts are with them.’
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