Football fan held hostage by Hamas thrilled to watch Spurs in Premier League

Freed hostage Emily Damari is to return to England to watch her beloved play.

Football-mad Emily, 28, loved watching Tottenham before she was snatched by Hamas on October 7th 2023. She was one of the first hostages freed earlier this year. Now she will be flying back to to watch Spurs play this weekend. She has kept no secret of her love for the north London club, which has a large Jewish following. While she was held captive in the tunnels under Gaza Spurs fans sang demanding her immediate release. They regularly chanted: "She’s one of our own. Emily Damari. Bring her home."

They even tied yellow ribbons around the stadium in a gesture of support. Now they will be able to greet her in person when she visits the Tottenham Hotspur stadium on Sunday afternoon.

READ MORE:

READ MORE:

One friend said: "She is really looking forward to watching Spurs again. She really loves the club. She wants 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 in 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."

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'."

Emily was held hostage by Hamas for 471 days until her release in January 2025. She was abducted from Kibbutz Kfar Aza.

In a recent Instagram post Emily thanked her friends and family for their support. She said: 'Love, love, love. I have returned to my beloved life.' She added: 'Thank you, thank you, thank you. I’m the happiest in the world just to be.'

Despite being shot by Hamas gunmen and enduring severe conditions, including starvation she remained a source of strength for fellow hostages. Emily lost two fingers after being shot