Emily Damari, abducted from the kibbutz of Kfar Aza during the Hamas attacks on October 7, was released this past Sunday as part of the initial stage of a ceasefire agreement with Hamas. A devoted fan of Maccabi Tel Aviv and the English soccer club, Tottenham Hotspur, Emily has expressed her gratitude to Tottenham fans and staff for their ongoing support during her captivity.
“Thank You for Bringing Emily Home”
Since returning to Israel, Emily’s mother took to social media to thank Tottenham fans for their efforts in raising awareness of her daughter’s situation and that of other hostages.
Thank you to everyone in the UK and around the world who supported the campaign to bring Emily home, and for all your messages here on X. You are amazing and we love you all
94 hostages still need us️ pic.twitter.com/nuRVj6n8tt
— Mandy Damari (@DamariMandy) January 21, 2025
“Thank you to everyone who supported the campaign to bring Emily home, in Britain and around the world, and for all your messages here on X. You are amazing, and we love you all,” she wrote.
Touching Support from Tottenham Hotspur
During Emily’s time in captivity, Tottenham fans organized extraordinary gestures to highlight her plight. These included releasing 3,000 yellow balloons during the derby match against Arsenal, calling for the release of Emily and other hostages. Emily’s mother shared that she had told Emily about the fans’ efforts, which deeply moved her. “We can’t wait to join you at a game again,” she wrote, adding a heartfelt plea: “Let’s continue this fight for the remaining hostages.”
I told Emily about all the @SpursOfficial fans who released yellow balloons and created a "She's one of our own" chant for her. She is so touched and we can't wait to join you again for a match
Let's keep going for the 94 remaining hostages, including 8 with British links ️ pic.twitter.com/7YMK6UtA90
— Mandy Damari (@DamariMandy) January 22, 2025
A Global Gesture of Solidarity
Max Redford, a prominent fan activist who led efforts to support Damari, revealed that upon her return, Emily received a Tottenham scarf along with numerous messages of encouragement from fans worldwide. “She was overwhelmed to hear about the balloon initiative, the visible support in the stadium, and how the message of freeing the hostages was spread throughout Tottenham’s grounds,” Redford said.
In a post on X, Redford added that Emily expressed a strong desire to return to London and attend her beloved Tottenham matches in person. “The club’s and fans’ support strengthened her during the hardest period of her life,” he shared.
EMILY DAMARI – the British hostage released from Hamas captivity after 471 days, on Sunday – is finally back in Israel and wants to thank Tottenham Hotspur, together with its fans and players, for all their unwavering support during her time being held captive in Gaza. pic.twitter.com/4W7abSu3qw
— Max Radford (@maxradford10) January 22, 2025
