Former hostage Emily Damari’s mother, Mandy, spoke with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Friday, and told him that Hamas held Emily in UNRWA facilities while she was in captivity.
“Hamas held Emily in UNRWA facilities and denied her access to medical treatment after shooting her twice,” Mandy told Starmer. “It’s a miracle she survived, and we need to get aid to the remaining hostages now.”
Thank you @Keir_Starmer for calling us today and all your support in getting Emily home. Hamas held Emily in @UNRWA facilities and denied her access to medical treatment after shooting her twice. It’s a miracle that she survived, and we need to get aid to remaining hostages now. pic.twitter.com/K5aZybh0K2
— Mandy Damari (@DamariMandy) January 31, 2025
UNRWA employees have been accused of acts of murder, abduction, and the taking of hostages on October 7.
Ditza Heiman, who was taken hostage during the October 7 Hamas attacks, was held captive by a UNRWA teacher for 53 days. She reported that her conditions were dire, with minimal food and no access to essential medication despite her health issues, including diabetes and thyroid problems. She described seeing the UNRWA logo on various items during her captivity, highlighting concerns about UNRWA’s involvement in supporting Hamas activities.
Heiman also recounted seeing the UNRWA logo on notebooks, snack packages, and other items. He asked the UNRWA employee if he was a teacher, and he confirmed to her that he was.
She also shared that she ate only once a day and was given snacks with packaging marked with the UNRWA logo and labeled “not for sale,” as it was given to schoolchildren.
Emily released from Hamas captivity
Emily Damari, a now 28-year-old British-Israeli, was released from Hamas captivity two weeks ago with Romi Gonen and Doron Steinbrecher.
Damari was abducted from her Kfar Aza apartment along with 37 other residents of her kibbutz on October 7.
Damari’s friend Bar Kislev told Israel’s Channel 12 that she saw Damari’s vehicle being driven around the kibbutz at 11 am on the day of the invasion.
The terrorists “shot [her] in the hand,” and was “injured by shrapnel in her leg, blindfolded, bundled into the back of her own car, and drive back to Gaza,” according to Mandy.
Danielle Greyman-Kennard and Amichai Stein contributed to this report.
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