Dear Members of the @PulitzerPrizes board,
My name is Emily Damari. I was held hostage in Gaza for over 500 days.
On the morning of October 7, I was at home in my small studio apartment in Kibbutz Kfar Aza when Hamas terrorists burst in, shot me and dragged me across the border into Gaza. I was one of 251 men, women, children, and elderly people kidnapped that day from their beds, their homes, and a music festival.
For almost 500 days I lived in terror. I was starved, abused, and treated like I was less than human. I watched friends suffer. I watched hope dim. And even now, after returning home, I carry that darkness with me - because my best friends, Gali and Ziv Berman are still being held in the Hamas terror tunnels.
So imagine my shock and pain when I saw that you awarded a Pulitzer Prize to Mosab Abu Toha.
This is a man who, in January, questioned the very fact of my captivity. He posted about me on Facebook and asked, “How on earth is this girl called a hostage?” He has denied the murder of the Bibas family. He has questioned whether Agam Berger was truly a hostage. These are not word games - they are outright denials of documented atrocities.
You claim to honor journalism that upholds truth, democracy, and human dignity. And yet you have chosen to elevate a voice that denies truth, erases victims, and desecrates the memory of the murdered.
Do you not see what this means? Mosab Abu Toha is not a courageous writer. He is the modern-day equivalent of a Holocaust denier. And by honoring him, you have joined him in the shadows of denial.
This is not a question of politics. This is a question of humanity. And today, you have failed it.
@TheFrozenEmma@TobiasHoldstock Italien har väldigt lågt barnafödande. Gravida kvinnor är behandlade som queens där! Tror det är något i katolska kulturen.
Vi från JUS vill framföra vår samlade bedömning att Hermon är ett 3/5 vin. Vi är mycket glada att ETC också verkar vilja att Systembolaget köper in flera olika kosherviner. Israel är stort vinland- kul att fler upptäckt det!
https://t.co/ALzLUW1Z5W
It’s a dark day today in Israel. Thousands of people got out of bed, drove hours to the south of Israel, only to hold flags and be there when for Yarden Bibas as he says one last goodbye to his family. This is Israel. Filled with amazing people🧡💔🇮🇱
Shiri, please watch over me...Protect me from bad decisions. Shield me from harmful things and protect me from myself. Guard me so I don't sink into darkness🧡
Yarden Bibas’s full eulogy:
"Mi Amor"
I remember the first time I said "mi amor" to you. It was at the very beginning of our relationship. You told me to only call you that if I was certain I loved you, not to say it carelessly. I didn't say it then because I didn't want you to think I was rushing to say "I love you." Shiri, I'll confess to you now that I already loved you back then when I said "mi amor."
Shiri, I love you and will always love you!
Shiri, you are everything to me!
You are the best wife and mother there could be.
Shiri, you are my best friend.
Mishmish, who will help me make decisions now? How am I supposed to make decisions without you?
Do you remember our last decision together?
In the safe room, I asked if we should "fight or surrender." You said fight, so I fought.
Shiri, I'm sorry I couldn't protect you all. If only I had known what would happen, I wouldn't have fired.
I think about everything we went through together—there are so many beautiful memories.
I remember Ariel and Kfir's births. I remember the days we would sit at home or in a café, just the two of us, talking for hours about everything under the sun. It was wonderful. I miss those times deeply.
Your presence is profoundly missed.
I want to tell you about everything that's happening in the world and here in Israel.
Shiri, everyone knows and loves us—you can't imagine how surreal all this madness is. Shiri, people tell me they'll always be by my side, but they're not you. So please stay close to me and don't go far!
Shiri, this is the closest I've been to you since October 7th, and I can't kiss or hug you, and it's breaking me!
Shiri, please watch over me...Protect me from bad decisions. Shield me from harmful things and protect me from myself. Guard me so I don't sink into darkness. Mishmish, I love you!
Chuki, Ariel,
You made me a father. You transformed us into a family. You taught me what truly matters in life and about responsibility. The day you were born, I matured instantly because of you. You taught me so much about myself, and I want to thank you. So thank you, my beloved.
Ariel, I hope you're not angry with me for failing to protect you properly and for not being there for you. I hope you know I thought about you every day, every minute.
I hope you're enjoying paradise. I'm sure you're making all the angels laugh with your silly jokes and impressions. I hope there are plenty of butterflies for you to watch, just like you did during our picnics.
Chuki, be careful when you climb down from your cloud not to step on Toni... Teach Kfir all your impressions and make everyone laugh up there.
Ariel, I love you "the most in the world, always in the world," just as you used to tell us.
Poopik, Kfir,
I didn't think our family could be more perfect, and then you came and made it even more perfect...
I remember your birth. I remember during the delivery when the midwife suddenly stopped everything—we were frightened and thought something was wrong—but it was just to tell us we had another redhead. Mom and I laughed and rejoiced. You brought more light and happiness to our little home. You came with your sweet, captivating laugh and smile, and I was instantly hooked! It was impossible not to nibble on you all the time.
Kfir, I'm sorry I didn't protect you better, but I need you to know that I love you deeply and miss you terribly!
I miss nibbling on you and hearing your laughter.
I miss our morning games when mom would ask me to watch you before I went to work. I cherished those little moments so much, and I miss them now more than ever! Kfir, I love you the most in the world, always in the world!
I have so many more things to tell you all, but I'll save them for when we're alone.
On X, there is a group of over 500 people who will be learning Torah weekly in memory of Shiri Bibas.
I have been asked many times “What can we do for the Bibas family?” We can do mitzvot in their memory. Whether it be learning Torah, doing acts of kindness, or giving charity, the soul in the next world is elevated by these beautiful acts.
Idag är det 10 år sedan terrorattentatet i Köpenhamn då Dan Uzan z’’l mördades när han stod vakt utanför en bat mitzva-fest i stora synagogan i Köpenhamn.
Idag minns vi Dan Uzan z’’l och hans hjältemod. Låt oss aldrig glömma. 🕯️💙
Appreciation post! Talmannen @andreasostgote har skrivit en bok om att odla tomater. Uppskattar hans mänskliga ödmjuka ledarstil. Verkar vara en fin person! Min planta fick två tomater i somras så jag ska läsa🍅
Vid minnesstunden i synagogan fick vi höra om hur skolor AVBOKAT föreningen Zikaron efter 7 oktober 2023. Zikaron, som ger gratis föreläsningar om Förintelsen från judiska ungdomar i 18-30 årsåldern. Anledningen till avbokningarna från skolors håll? ”Det är inte läge nu”.😨