The mother of Britain’s only hostage yesterday asked the Prime Minister why he had backed a motion to end the war in Gaza without releasing her daughter.
Mandy Damari, 63, said she felt “betrayed” when the UK government supported a UN Security Council resolution calling for an “unconditional” end to the fighting.
He did not claim that the release of the hostages should be a condition for peace that effectively “signs a death sentence” for his 28-year-old daughter Emily.
Damari told the Mail last month how she had asked Sir Keir Starmer to do “much more” for her son, but just weeks later he broke his word.
The Surrey-born mum said she was “extremely disappointed” as the Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary David Lammy had personally promised to fight for Emily.
“They told me one thing and then did another,” he told the Mail. ‘They may talk about it behind closed doors, but supporting this UN motion shows that ultimately they are not doing enough to bring it home with life.
‘This decision basically means a death sentence for her if the release of the hostages is not demanded at the same time as a ceasefire is established.
“My daughter should come home alive now before it’s too late for her and she comes back to me in a body bag.”
Yesterday, Mandy Damari raised the decision privately with Sir Keir and David Lammy at a Labor Friends of Israel lunch at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Westminster.
Tottenham Hotspur fan Emily was taken from her home in Kibbutz Kfar Aza, near the Gaza border, on October 7 last year.
Emily grew up a Tottenham fan, enjoyed British music and “loved going to the pub”.
Mandy Damari, 63, said she felt “betrayed” when the UK government supported a UN Security Council resolution calling for an “unconditional” end to the fighting.
Yesterday, Ms Damari raised the decision privately with Sir Keir and Mr Lammy at a Labor Friends of Israel lunch at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Westminster.
He also mentioned it in an emotional speech at the event, telling attendees: “That vote surprised me and broke my heart.” Nobody supports peace more than me. Nobody.
“But there will be no peace until Emily and all the hostages are brought home.”
Damari also called on the British government to lead efforts to bring humanitarian aid to the 101 hostages remaining in Gaza.
Despite being held for more than a year, not a single captive has been visited by Red Cross or UN workers.
Tottenham Hotspur fan Emily was taken from her home in Kibbutz Kfar Aza, near the Gaza border, on October 7 last year.
Her beloved golden cockapoo, Choocha, was shot dead, while the attack left her with a gunshot wound to her hand. Since then little has been known about her.
Damari, a daycare teacher, said in her speech, “I want us all to take a moment and imagine Emily right now, with all the physical and mental scars that may never heal.” Dressed in dirty rags and lice in her hair.
Mandy Damari, 63, and her British daughter Emily, 28
Mandy Damari, pictured with Foreign Secretary David Lammy on December 2.
Mandy Damari speaking at the Remembering 7th October memorial event in Hyde Park, central London
Mandy Damari previously described how her daughter, who has dual British-Israeli nationality, “loved coming to visit her family” in Britain, having grown up in Israel.
‘He is probably still in pain from the gunshot wounds to his hand and leg that were not properly treated. Shivering and starving. Dehydrated. Ghostly pale. His breathing is shallow. A bucket as a toilet, impossible to escape the stench.
‘Watched by people who want to kill her or rape her. Terrified every waking moment and too scared to fall asleep. Fighting to stay alive, minute after minute, month after month. 423 days, with no end in sight. He is in hell.
Ms Damari was then seen hugging Mr Lammy, who she sat next to during lunch. She later posed for photographs with him and Sir Keir.
The Prime Minister responded to their points in his own speech at the event. He said: ‘Mandy, I want to be absolutely clear about the UN Security Council Resolution. This government’s policy towards a ceasefire has not changed.
“There is no ceasefire worthy of the name that does not include, as point number one, the return of all the hostages and for that we work day and night.”
Damari later told the Mail she was “very pleased” that Sir Keir committed to the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages as a condition of any ceasefire.
He has also written to the king asking for his support, given that the monarch will receive the emir of Qatar on a state visit today.
Mandy Damari has stepped up her desperate campaign to get her daughter back
Mandy Damari appears hugging Emily in a touching photo before being kidnapped.
Damari learned that Emily was still alive during the ceasefire agreement in November last year.
The Gulf state hosts Hamas leaders and is seen as key to pressuring the terrorist group to release hostages.
Damari also hopes to meet with Qatar’s prime minister, as they are both in London at the same time.
While the UN motion simultaneously called for the release of the hostages, it did not make it a condition for the ceasefire.
In practice, it would give them the green light to pressure Israel to leave Gaza without releasing the captives, which would mean they would probably never be freed.
The United States used its veto to block the motion, which was supported by the other 14 members, citing concerns about the captives.
Damari was left “upset” after Lammy posted on social media hours after meeting demanding that Israel give more aid to Gaza without mentioning her daughter.
The Foreign Minister did not mention that he had met with Emily Damari’s mother yesterday, but tweeted to ask Jerusalem to “send cold and flood protection equipment” to Gaza.
Mrs Damari said: “Immediately after promising again to fight for Emily, David Lammy took to Twitter to write about the plight of the Palestinians without mentioning Emily or the hostages.
‘Emily suffers from malnutrition, cold and hunger, but he didn’t see the need to mention her even once. “It’s disturbing and disappointing.”