They exchanged text messages and emojis. Brief status updates with words of encouragement. A picture of the beloved family dog “Tutsi.”

Until no more messages came.

And then, Cindy Flash, an American, and her Israeli husband Igal vanished into the violence, presumed kidnapped by Hamas.

Four days after Hamas attacked Israel, more than 100 Israelis and potentially dozens of foreign nationals are thought to be held captive in the Gaza Strip. At least 14 U.S. citizens have been killed and an unknown number are still unaccounted for.

Flash, 67, originally from St. Paul, Minnesota, is one of them. She lives in Kfar Aza, a kibbutz in southern Israel near Gaza, where some of the most harrowing and grisly stories have been emerging during the last few days.

“They are breaking down the safe room door,” Flash said in one of her final messages to her daughter Keren, 34. “We need someone to come by the house right now.” She had been communicating with her parents from a few houses away.

Keren described her mother, who worked as an administrator in a local college, as someone who had the “sweetest biggest heart,” who everyone knew and loved, and who had spent a lifetime advocating for the rights of Palestinians, including those who live in Gaza where she may now be held.

    • wildginger@lemmy.myserv.one
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      1 year ago

      Lol then maybe get your head out of your ass. Israel has been committing war crimes for over a decade.

      Newspapers globally have spent all day retracting claims of hamas attacks after 3rd party sources confirm the damage was caused by israel attacks. WSJ just retracted the beheaded baby claim, because they cant find a non israel source for it, and cant find any bodies. LAT just retracted the rape claims for the same reason.

      Israel is trying to use hamas as an excuse to just start a genocide, and trying to stick them with the blame for their civilian attacks.

      Yes, hamas has been killing civilians. But unfortunately they are not the only ones doing so.

      • flossdaily@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        Have they?

        Or has the internal community just decided that collateral damage is a war crime when Israel does it?

        • wildginger@lemmy.myserv.one
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          1 year ago

          Yeah, again, what the fuck is wrong with you?

          Israel declared a refugee passage. Any bombing of refugee exit routes is a war crime. Period.

          Israel bombed the passage they declared as safe for refugee travel so badly, egypt had to close it off.

          They intentionally bombed the only civilian exit they offered for refugees. Thats not collateral damage. Thats a war crime.

          Youre excited they are killing innocent children, arent you?

            • wildginger@lemmy.myserv.one
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              1 year ago

              The same could be said of you.

              Oh, except I have actually provided a few sources in the thread. Huh, thats weird, are those facts upsetting for you?