Hostage Emily Damari Reveals Dire Conditions During Captivity to Keir Starmer

Emily Damari, recently freed after a lengthy 15-month ordeal in Gaza, recounted her experiences to Prime Minister Keir Starmer during a conversation on Friday. The 28-year-old revealed that Hamas imprisoned her in locations associated with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (Unrwa), a claim made by her mother, Mandy. Damari, who lost two fingers during her captivity, also conveyed to Starmer that she was denied medical assistance following two gunshot wounds inflicted by her captors.

In response to the serious accusations, Unrwa spokesperson Juliette Touma reiterated to the BBC the organization’s ongoing concern. Unrwa's mission is to support Palestinian refugees, and they have contributed significantly to food aid in Gaza amid the conflict. Touma explained that many of their facilities had lost access for months and converted into shelters, limiting their ability to provide aid during the crisis. She emphasized the organization's long-standing call for the release of hostages, labeling the reports of captivity within Unrwa premises as grave misuses that warrant thorough investigations, particularly regarding the involvement of Palestinian armed factions including Hamas.

As tensions escalate, new legislation in Israel went into effect on Thursday, prohibiting Unrwa's operations within the country. This action has forced many international staff to leave, which critics believe will severely hinder vital humanitarian efforts and could impede recovery efforts in Gaza. The Israeli government has implicated Unrwa in employing members of armed groups, though the agency has dismissed the allegations of knowingly supporting militant activities, citing that it terminated several employees after inquiries into these claims.

During her meeting with Starmer, Damari and her mother discussed the challenges she experienced while being held captive, urging for increased humanitarian access for those still imprisoned in Gaza. Her mother expressed gratitude to the Prime Minister for his efforts that led to Damari's release earlier this month and shared an emotional moment, posting a photograph of herself enabling her daughter to speak. Damari had been taken from her residence during the early days of the conflict, forcibly removed at gunpoint alongside friends, and both she and her mother expressed their hopes for future support for remaining captives.