EXCLUSIVE: Emily Damari, 28, was given a special welcome including a 'one of our own' chant by fans as she attended her first Tottenham Hotspur game since being kidnapped by Hamas on October 7
Freed Hamas hostage Emily Damari returned to watch her beloved Spurs play this afternoon and said: “I am finally home.”
It was the first time football mad Emily, 28, has been to a Premier League match since she was released earlier this year. She loved watching Tottenham before she was snatched by Hamas on October 7th 2023. Spurs fans laid on a special welcome outside the stadium for her before their match with Crystal Palace. They even displayed a yellow banner demanding “Bring the 59 hostages home now” - referring to those still being kept in Gaza. Emily, who lost two fingers after being shot, was held hostage by Hamas for 471 days until her release in January.
She addressed the supporters before the match and said: “Wow, wow, wow. This is more than a home. “It’s a family. You people mean more than anything to me. Yes I love the game but I love you all even more. I am finally really home.” Emily was standing by her mum Mandy as she spoke. She flew into London from Israel to watch the game. She has made no secret of her love for the north London club which has a large Jewish following.
While she was kept captive in the tunnels under Gaza Spurs fans regularly sang for her release. They regularly chanted: “Emily Damari - she’s one of our own.” They even tied yellow ribbons around the stadium in a gesture of support.
One close friend said: “She was really looking forward to watching Spurs again today.
“She really loves the club. She wanted to go to the stadium and see all the fans who supported her so much during her time in captivity.”
After being released Emily was pictured smiling and holding a “Come on you Spurs” scarf aloft as she thanked fans for their support.
Her mum, Mandy Damari, 63, from Beckenham, south east London said: “I told Emily about all the Spurs 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.”
Previously one of the activists who campaigned on her behalf Spurs fan Max Radford, said: “Emily Damari wants to thank Tottenham Hotspur, together with its fans and players, for all their unwavering support during her time being held captive in Gaza. “She is so touched to hear about all the amazing people who regularly released yellow balloons during the matches and tied yellow ribbons around the stadium and is so proud to be known as ‘one of our own.”