Latest news with #MandyDamari
National Post
5 days ago
- Lifestyle
- National Post
David Christopher Kaufman: Shame on LGBT elite for ignoring lesbian Israeli hostage Emily Damari this Pride season
Article content There are many heroes to have emerged from the flames of Hamas' attack on Israel two Octobers ago, but none quite like Emily Damari. And none quite like now, as June marks the start of LGBT Pride month — and even more antisemitic violence reaches the U.S. Damari, a 28 year-old Israeli-Briton, was among the 33 hostages returned this winter after nearly 500 days of captivity in Gaza. And as she revealed over the weekend, Damari, is also a lesbian — a fact kept quiet during the 15 months she was held by Hamas, which likely saved her life. Article content Article content This is bravery of unfathomable proportions — both by Emily and her family, particularly her mother Mandy, who somehow ensured her daughter remained in the spotlight without risking too much spotlight which could have made her sexuality known. And, of course, the bravery demonstrated by Emily's partner, Orel — compelled to refer to Damari as a mere 'friend,' as she fought for her release. Article content Article content Article content I may have personally known homophobia for much of my life, but nothing like Emily, who faced an almost certain (and brutal) death had her gayness been revealed. Back in 2016, in fact, Hamas infamously murdered one of their own commanders for suspected homosexuality. Just imagine what they would have done to a female, Jewish, Israeli hostage. 'From their perspective, they think it's a sickness,' said Damari in an interview with Israeli television news. 'Hamas couldn't know I was gay!' Article content Beyond the sheer steeliness displayed by Damari is what her story says about the failure — and folly — of the pro-Palestinian crowd over the past 18 months. These are people that deny and defy logic at every turn. Indeed, I seethe knowing that while #queersforpalestine twits were marauding across cities worldwide, an actual queer — Emily Damari — was in Gaza knowing that at any moment her queerness could end her life. Yet since news of Damari's release — no major LGBT group has saluted her valour. Article content There have been no articles in leading American LGBT media brands such as The Advocate and Them. And no public commendations from major LGBT advocacy organizations — such as GLAAD, whose annual media awards last May devolved into an orgy of Israel bashing. Article content Article content Meanwhile, feminists have also kept silent about Damari, despite her ordeal at the hands of, perhaps, the most misogynistic political entity besides the Taliban. Remember the crowds that Hamas gathered for the creepy release ceremonies that accompanied the hostages' release in winter. Notice anything strange: There are almost no women — anywhere. Only men and machine guns. This is the misogynistic reality Emily Damari contended with for over a year.
BBC News
11-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
British-Israeli hostage 'so happy' to be in UK
Former British-Israeli hostage Emily Damari has told BBC News she is "so happy" to be in the UK and is thankful to those here who campaigned for her release from 28-year-old was released from Hamas captivity after being held for more than 15 months after she was kidnapped from her home in southern Israel on 7 October Damari, who is visiting the UK for the first time since her release in January, said she was happy to be "home finally", as she was surrounded by supporters outside Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. "Thank you to everyone for praying for me, and shouting my name without knowing me. I don't really have the words to say how thankful I am for that," she told the crowd. "I'm home finally, and with you it's more than a home. It's like a family," she said, adding with a smile that she hopes Spurs will win today. Some 59 hostages remain in Gaza, with about 21 thought to still be alive. "They need to bring the hostages back now. It's not something to talk about, they just need to bring them home," Ms Damari told the she said that at times she never thought she would make it back to the UK and that she was thankful to everyone in Britain who campaigned for her and her mother Mandy, originally from South London, who led efforts to get her in a Spurs shirt, Ms Damari hugged her mum, who said: "I'm so glad she's back and so glad she's here with people who supported her all the time."The British-Israeli national was shot in the leg and hand when she was dragged from her home on Kinbutz Kfar Aza on 7 October. Hamas also shot and killed her was taken from the safe room of her house with her friends Ziv and Gali Berman. The 27-year-old twins are still being held by Hamas and Ms Damari said she is doing all she can to get them and the other 59 hostages - not all of them alive - back to their families in Israel. Earlier this week, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said while they had believed 24 hostages were still alive, there was now uncertainty about the fate of three of the stadium, Ms Damari held a banner showing her two friends and told the crowd: "May the 59 hostages be home soon. Gali and Ziv Berman are very, very close friends of mine, and I hope they bring him home. Today."Her mother Mandy said: "We need all the 59 hostages back. Gali and Ziv are Emily's friends and it's so important to all the families that the hostages in Gaza have to come back."About 1,200 people were killed by Hamas-led gunmen that day, while Gali and Ziv were among 251 others who were taken than 52,780 people have been killed in Gaza during the ensuing war, according to the territory's Hamas-run health the Hamas attack, Ms Damari lost two of her fingers and did not receive proper medical treatment while being held. But her injured hand gesture that she flashed on her release has been seen as a symbol of defiance and resilience in Israel, appearing on posters, t-shirts and memes across the country. Ms Damari has yet to talk about the details of her captivity, but at a visit this weekend to a London synagogue, where an empty seat with a poster of her on it for the 471 days she was held, she said she had prayed every day as a hostage, and that however terrible it was, each day she remembered she was thankful to be Damari's mother, Mandy, broke down in tears as she thanked the UK and the British Jewish community for supporting and campaigning for her daughter while she was being Damari was able to spend time with her British family this weekend, although the joy at returning to the UK was tinged with some sadness as her British grandfather died while she was still held by she returns to Israel she faces another operation on her leg and hand as the damage caused by the bullet wounds have still not fully she is determined that as she now has her freedom, her friends and fellow hostages should soon follow her.
