The mother of freed hostage Emily Damari revealed Friday that her daughter was held by Hamas at UNRWA facilities in the Gaza Strip, and that her captors refused to give her access to medical treatment.
Emily lost two fingers in her left hand after being shot by Hamas terrorists during her abduction on October 7, 2023.
“Hamas held Emily in UNRWA facilities and denied her access to medical treatment after shooting her twice,” wrote Mandy, who like her daughter has British citizenship.
UNRWA, short for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, later said in response to Damari that the “very serious claim” must be investigated.
That also includes Hamas.” The revelation came a day after a new Israeli took effect that prohibits operations by UNRWA on Israeli land — including East Jerusalem — and contact with Israeli authorities.
Emily Damari, a freed hostage, said Friday that her captors denied her access to medical care while her daughter was being held by Hamas at UNRWA facilities in the Gaza Strip.
During her kidnapping on October 7, 2023, Emily was shot by Hamas terrorists, resulting in the loss of two fingers in her left hand. In an X post, her mother, Mandy, thanked British Prime Minister Keir Starmer for getting in touch with them earlier in the day and said it was “a miracle that she survived.”.
Mandy, who shares British citizenship with her daughter, wrote, “After Emily was shot twice, Hamas detained her in UNRWA facilities and denied her access to medical treatment.”. We must now provide aid to the remaining hostages; her survival is a miracle. “.”.
The phone call contained no statement from Starmer’s office.
In response to Damari, UNRWA—an acronym for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees—later stated that the “very serious claim” needs to be looked into.
When the war began, the great majority of our buildings were converted into shelters. According to the Guardian, UNRWA spokeswoman Juliette Touma told the BBC that the organization could provide them with very little aid and supplies.
We have been demanding the release of hostages for months on end. These allegations that hostages have been detained on UNRWA property, even after being released, are grave. “”.
Independent inquiries into these allegations, including the mistreatment and disregard of UNRWA property by Palestinian armed groups, have been demanded on numerous occasions. Hamas is included in this as well. “.”.
The disclosure was made the day after a new Israeli law went into effect that forbids UNRWA from conducting operations on Israeli territory, including East Jerusalem, and from interacting with Israeli officials.
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