Football fans unite to call for the release of the last remaining British hostage - The Jewish Chronicle

Many hundreds of yellow balloons were released into the air during a football match between Tottenham Hotspurs and Newcastle United this weekend to raise awareness of 28-year-old Emily Damari, a lifelong Spurs fan and the last remaining British hostage still held in Gaza.

Spurs fans and campaigners joined forces for the show of solidarity, more than 450 days after Emily was taken captive, during the game on Saturday in the north London club’s home stadium.

In addition to the balloons being released at the seventh minute of the game, a picture of Emily, smiling and donning a Spurs scarf, was displayed on the stadium’s large LED screens during halftime, while hundreds of fans sang in unison: “She’s one of our own, she’s one of our own, Emily Damari, bring Emily home”.

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Stop The Hate, organisers of the “She’s One of Our Own” campaign, have since September pushed for Emily’s release alongside Tottenham fans, with Saturday’s display representing their largest effort yet.

Ahead of kick-off, dozens of campaign organisers positioned themselves close to the stadium’s West Stand entrance carrying banners displaying Emily’s face, handing out flyers to the thousands of fans arriving from the train station, and sang to bring her home. As well as distributing leaflets which raised awareness to Emily’s plight, hundreds of balloons were given to Spurs and Newcastle fans with the request they be released at the seventh minute.

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Joined by over 50 Spurs fans thanks to support from the Tottenham Supporters Trust, campaigners were “overwhelmed by the positive response we received from both Spurs and Newcastle supporters,” adding it was “heartwarming” to see the message resonating with fans of both teams.

“We were touched by how many people, previously unaware of Emily’s plight, joined us in releasing balloons. The campaign will continue until Emily is back at the stadium she loves most,” said Itai Galmudy from Stop The Hate.

Mandy Damari, Emily’s mother, said her daughter would be “so moved” to see so many campaigning for her release, especially as fans of Spurs, a team she loves “with all her heart”.

Mandy said the song Spurs fans sing about Emily and the yellow balloons are “beautiful gestures of hope and solidarity, and I’m truly touched by the love and determination” from everyone involved.

“Knowing that so many people are standing with her gives me strength,” she said. “Thank you, Spurs family, for being part of this fight.”

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During a trip to London in December, Mandy pleaded directly with senior British government officials including Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Foreign Secretary David Lammy and Chancellor Rachel Reeves at Labour Friends of Israel’s annual lunch to secure her daughter’s release.

She said at the time, as a potential hostage deal was beginning to materialise, that now is the moment for Britain to “make its voice heard at the negotiating table” and bring Emily home.

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Emily, a “proud” British citizen – who on trips to the country from Israel loves to engage in British pastimes like hitting the pub to watch the footy, eating full English breakfasts, watching Harry Potter, and visiting Primark and Jo Malone perfume shops – was kidnapped by Hamas terrorists after they entered her home on October 7, shooting and wounding her and killing her dog.

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Emily Damari

Tottenham Hotspur