British-Israeli hostage freed as UK PM warns of ‘new threat’ at home from terrorism

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Tuesday, who thanked him for the release of the dual national, Emily Damari, who was freed Sunday alongside two other young Israeli women, Doron Steinbrecher and Romi Gonen.

Mandy Damari, Emily’s mother, had campaigned tirelessly in the UK for her daughter, the last British hostage being held by Hamas in Gaza, for over 15 months. At times, Damari had also criticized the inaction of the British government. 

On Monday, however, she expressed her gratitude for the government’s support, as she delivered thanks to heroic Israeli soldiers who fought on Oct. 7, 2023, “and every day since,” and to friends and politicians alike.

“I want to thank everyone who never stopped fighting for Emily throughout this horrendous ordeal, and who never stopped saying her name. In Israel, Britain, the United States, and around the world,” Damari said, shortly after being reunited with her daughter.

“While Emily’s nightmare in Gaza is over, for too many other families the impossible wait continues. Every last hostage must be released, and humanitarian aid must be provided to the hostages who are still waiting to come home.”

Starmer called the release “wonderful and long-overdue news after months of agony for them and their families.”

“While this ceasefire deal should be welcomed, we must not forget about those who remain in captivity under Hamas,” he said. “We must now see the remaining phases of the ceasefire deal implemented in full and on schedule, including the release of those remaining hostages and a surge of humanitarian aid into Gaza.”

The British prime minister has also given a lengthy statement to the nation, following the sentencing of the Southport killer of three young girls at a party last summer. Starmer acknowledged the failings within the Home Office system, in particular the Prevent Program, which is supposed to identify potential terrorists.

He said that Britain was facing a “new threat,” since terrorism had “changed” to include lone rangers who can easily be radicalized online, such as the 17-year-old Southport murderer (now 18), Axel Rudakubana, who had consulted an al Qaida training manual.

Many British young people believe that Palestinian terrorists, such as Hamas members, are simply freedom fighters against an Israeli ‘occupation.’ Evidence of this was seen recently at a debate at the prestigious Oxford Union, where Jewish and Arab-Israeli speakers were verbally abused by a large crowd of apparent Hamas supporters.

Anti-Israel marches have been a regular feature of Saturdays in London, since Oct. 7, 2023. Many who attend these large gatherings are young people seeking a cause, who do not necessarily understand the genocidal meaning of the slogan ‘From the River to the Sea.’

The former UK Labour Party leader, Jeremy Corbyn, was questioned by police on Sunday, after being one of the speakers at a pro-Palestinian rally the day before. The former shadow chancellor, John McDonnell, was also questioned.

London’s MET police had heeded months of calls from the Jewish community to disallow yet another ‘Free Palestine’ march on a Saturday in close proximity to Jewish worshippers leaving synagogue services.

Instead, the police proposed a static gathering, behind a police cordon. However, many of the protesters breached the line, leading to dozens of arrests.

The Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAA) group had praised the MET for finally taking action against the anti-Israel marches, having called repeatedly for the police to take action against the organizers of the often openly antisemitic protests. The CAA described the chaos which ensued as they said the police “finally” took a firm stance. 

From the Conservative side of the political spectrum, former British prime minister, Boris Johnson, commented on 𝕏 about the scenes of the release of the three women on Sunday, surrounded by masked gunmen:

“What a picture of Hamas – thousands of armed young men mocking the brave, defenseless and completely innocent women. How is this supposed to promote reconciliation?”