Brit hostage shot by Hamas to finally walk free as Israel reaches ceasefire deal
Brit hostage shot by Hamas to finally walk free as Israel reaches ceasefire deal
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A British hostage could walk free this weekend with a ceasefire finally agreed between Israel and Hamas. After weeks of painstaking negotiations in Qatar, officials announced on Wednesday that Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire deal raising the possibility of winding down the deadliest and most destructive fighting between the bitter enemies.
It promises the release of dozens of hostages held by Hamas and hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in Israel, and would allow hundreds of thousands of people displaced in Gaza to return to what remains of their homes. Among those at the top of the list to be released is Emily Damari, who was shot in the hand and leg when she was taken by Hamas militants in southern Israel during the October 7 attack.
Sources said three hostages from a group of five women and two children will be returned to Israel on Sunday and the rest will be freed a week later, reported the Mail. Emily’s mother Mandy Damari, who was born in Surrey, has been campaigning for her release along with twin brothers Ziv and Gali Berman, 27.
Orly Goldschmidt, spokesperson for the UK's Israeli embassy, told Sky News: "Emily Damari, a 28-year-old British-Israeli citizen, is still in the dungeon of Hamas, and we are asking for the international support, for the British support, to put pressure on Hamas to release her and the other 100 hostages." Foreign Secretary David Lammy said the agreement offered “a moment of hope after over a year of agony” following Hamas’ “appalling attack” but “much remains to be done” to achieve lasting peace in the region.
