October 6th 2024.
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It has been a year since Mandy Damari's daughter Emily was kidnapped by Hamas from a Kibbutz in Israel. Ever since then, Mandy's life has been a living nightmare, filled with worry and constant campaigning for Emily's release. The militant group has held Emily captive for 364 days, ever since she was taken from her home in Kibbutz Kfar Aza near the Gaza border. Mandy, a 63-year-old nursery school teacher from Surrey, has been tirelessly advocating for her daughter's freedom, using every waking moment to lobby for her release and meet with officials.
At a recent anniversary event commemorating the October 7 attack, Mandy spoke to the crowd about the heartache she has endured over the past year. She expressed her fear that soon there will be nothing left of her heart, or Emily, if she is not returned home soon. Mandy has even taken her campaign to Downing Street, where she handed a note to Prime Minister Keir Starmer, pleading for him to do everything in his power to help bring Emily home. She stressed the importance of diplomatic pressure, negotiations, and humanitarian efforts, declaring that they cannot let another day pass without taking action.
In her letter to Emily, Mandy reminded her daughter to stay strong and keep praying, while also promising to never again complain about Emily's perfume sticking to her when she's home. It's been a long and agonizing year for Mandy, with little progress made in securing Emily's release. Sadly, another British hostage, Nadav Popplewell, was confirmed dead in June, along with four others who were taken captive by Hamas.
The ongoing conflict between Hamas and Israel has led to tragic consequences for both sides. In retaliation for the attack and kidnappings, Israel launched airstrikes in Gaza, which have resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands of people. The crisis has also escalated tensions between Israel, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and Iran. Last month, thousands of booby-trapped pagers and walkie-talkies exploded simultaneously across Lebanon, believed to have been planted by Israeli agents. This led to airstrikes on both sides of the Lebanon-Israel border, causing even more civilian casualties.
As the violence and suffering continue, the need for compassion and humanity becomes even more crucial. At the commemorative event in Hyde Park, actress Tracy-Ann Oberman reminded the audience that we must not forget our humanity, for everyone who is suffering. She also emphasized the importance of remembering both the innocent victims and the hostages still held captive. The crisis has taken a heavy toll on the people of Gaza, with thousands being killed and many more displaced from their homes. It's a heartbreaking situation that calls for action, not just words.
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