Latest news with #Galia
Daily Mirror
5 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Mirror
Mum of Israeli hostage Evyatar David delivers blistering message to Hamas apologists
Since Hamas released a video on Saturday which showed Evyatar David looking skeletal and hollow-eyed in a dimly lit Gaza tunnel, Keir Starmer has stressed the hostages must be released The mother of an Israeli hostage seen skeletal and hollow-eyed in a grim video has stressed she hopes the footage "has shaken people enough". Galia David has barely left her home since the horrifying footage of her son Evyatar, 24, went around the world. It shows him being forced to dig his own grave in the terror tunnels of Gaza. Describing the clip last night, Galia said: "He looked like a skeleton. It is sadistic torture." The brave mum, who is a dance instructor, added: "We very much hope this video has shaken people enough. I want everyone in the world to see this image, to know what Hamas terrorists are doing." It comes after furious Bob Geldof issued a desperate plea on Sky News to save babies in Gaza. Galia's first interview with the media since the footage emerged on Saturday follows Keir Starmer's announcement to recognise Palestine as a state. The Prime Minister said Britain is prepared to recognise the state of Palestine in September unless Israel agrees a ceasefire in Gaza. When such videos emerge from Hamas, the mainstream media wait for families to give the green light before airing them. Galia decided to request mainstream media to publish the video because she wants "the world will truly understand how the hostages are suffering". "That is why we ultimately decided to allow the release of the video – so that the world will truly understand how the hostages are suffering, who here is cruel, who is abusing not only our children but also the population in Gaza," mother-of-three Galia told Daily Mail. Addressing Mr Starmer and President of France Emmanuel Macron directly last night, Evyatar's dad Ilan Dalal said: "Because of you there wasn't an agreement to bring our children home, and you caused the war in Gaza to continue." But Mr Starmer has, this week, reiterated Hamas must release the hostages, sign up to a ceasefire, disarm and play no role in the government of Gaza. The Government will then make an assessment in September "on how far the parties have met these steps", the Prime Minister said. And, of her son's desperate condition, Galia said: "I don't think I have to tell you how urgent it is to get them out... Medical professionals told us that he can live for only another few days." Last week, in a statement from Downing Street, the Prime Minister said the Palestinian people have "endured terrible suffering" with "catastrophic failure of aid". He added: "We see starving babies, children too weak to stand, images that will stay with us for a lifetime. The suffering must end."
Sunday World
06-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Sunday World
American-born singer Galia Arad reveals how Shane MacGowan changed her life
American singer never gave up trying to get MacGowan involved in her recording Chasing her dream of having MacGowan write the liner notes for her second album at the start of her career in 2009, Galia, who now lives in Ireland, reveals that she phoned his manager every day from New York. After several months, it ultimately led to the Fairytale Of New York singer offering to produce her album in Dublin. But on the day of the recording, Galia feared that Shane was going to be a no-show and her dreams were going to be crushed — after he turned up 10 hours late for the recording. Galia with Shane Although she has no family connections in Ireland, Galia had dated an Irish guy when she was 20 and wrote an entire album about their relationship called Ooh La Baby. Connection 'Since the album was about an Irish person, I was thinking about who would be best to write the liner notes,' Galia tells the Sunday World as she releases a new single, This Close. 'Back then I shot for the stars and thought Shane MacGowan would be perfect… and I just didn't stop until I got him. My older sister had a Pogues album and they were a big influence on my music. 'At the time I had a day job in New York working as a PA in a financial company. Through a lucky connection I got a number for Shane MacGowan's manager Joey Cashman. Galia worked with Shane in the studio 'I called Joey on the company phone and he was abrupt with me, but he told me to call back the next day. I called the next day and he was like, 'oh f**k off, call me tomorrow.' 'Every time I would call I would say, 'Hi, this is Galia calling, the liner notes girl.' It was so ridiculous and so embarrassing. My sister, to this day, calls me Galia The Liner Notes Girl,' she laughs. 'But because Joey gave me the impression there was a chance, I would force myself to call him every day. 'And then one day I got a phone call from my boss saying, 'For some reason there's a call to Ireland every day lasting one minute long.' But he was OK about it. 'And then, finally, Joey said, 'send over your stuff, I'll give it to Shane, we'll have a listen to it.' 'Some months later I was sitting in my shoe box apartment in New York when I got the phone call I'll never forget. It was Joey — the first time he had ever called me. 'He said, 'So we listened to the demo and Shane doesn't think it's sh*te. He would like to possibly produce a couple of the songs if you are coming to Ireland.' Galia asked Shane to write liner notes 'It so happened that at that time I had booked a tour to Ireland with my friend, blues musician Kirsten Thien, to play a few gigs in Dublin.' In the meantime, Galia received Shane MacGowan's hand written liner notes for her album. 'I've never felt so out of control of something that I've wanted more than these f**king liner notes,' she laughs. 'It was very stressful for me because I wanted them so bad. 'But I had got the liner notes in seven different pages, written in capital letters, and they were crazy but perfect. It was just one of the happiest moments of my life. 'Before the recording, which Joey set up, he organised for me and Kirsten to support Republic Of Loose at the UCD Fresher's Ball. Nervous 'Joe said, 'I'm going to bring Shane to see you.' 'They arrived in after we started performing, Joey in his motorcycle gear waving frantically at the front, and then I spotted Shane slipping in at the side. 'That night I drank way too much and got very sick, probably the sickest I've ever been. That is the price you pay for having the craic with Shane MacGowan.' When it came to the day of the recording, Galia feared the worst when there was no sign of MacGowan. Galia has been doing gigs with Jools Holland 'Shane didn't turn up and as the hours slipped away it looked like it wasn't going to happen. Everything felt so precarious,' she says. 'I was so nervous it wasn't going to happen. 'But he came 10 hours late, and then in the studio I couldn't understand what he was saying when he was giving me direction and that was also quite stressful. Galia asked Shane to write liner notes, right, for her album, and he also worked with her in the studio Today's News in 90 Seconds - July 7th 'But he was very kind and I didn't feel uncomfortable.' MacGowan ended up singing on a couple of the tracks, including one called Four Leaf Lover Boy, as well as producing them. Galia now tours with Jools Holland and she reveals that is another gift from MacGowan. 'Shane got the gig to support Jools and included me, and then he had to pull out of that tour,' she reveals. Gigs 'They said 'we'll still have Galia.' And since then I've been doing Jools Holland gigs and it's all thanks to Shane. And he's the reason, along with Joey, that I've made Dublin my home.'
