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.

    • Maalus@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      The article clearly states “advocate for Palestinians, then Hamas came for her” like it’s some “voting for the face eating leopards” situation. It’s a valid distinction. Also, no, the Israeli army isn’t all Israelis.

      • Son_of_dad@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        It’s hard to see the difference between Palestinians and Hamas when they had a pro Palestine rally in my city and their signs were peppered with “death to all Jews” and pictures of Jewish caricatures being hanged.

        • wildginger@lemmy.myserv.one
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          1 year ago

          You must be pretty stupid if you struggle to see the difference between hamas and normal palestinians

          Do you think piss is apple juice, because theyre both a liquid and they could be the same color sometimes if you squint?

          • TokenBoomer@lemmy.world
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            1 year ago

            Please calm down if you can. Don’t let the miseducated get you emotional. They are victims of disinformation and propaganda, and it takes time to work through it. 👍

        • exoplanetary@lemmy.world
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          1 year ago

          Just because Hamas support Palestine doesn’t mean that supporting Palestine makes you support Hamas. That’s like saying that because I like art and Hitler liked art that means I support Hitler (which I very much fucking don’t). It doesn’t make any sense logically.

          • Son_of_dad@lemmy.world
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            1 year ago

            Ok so don’t. These people are just like the IDF and the people shouting death to Jews are just like Hamas, what’s the problem here? Seems we’re in agreement

            • Lucent@lemmy.world
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              1 year ago

              One group has the power to complete annihilate the other.

              The other is living in the largest open air prison & concentration camp in the world.

              This is a ghetto uprising. Something I would expect you to know the history of.

    • deft@ttrpg.network
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      1 year ago

      where did he say that?

      sick of you fuckers not letting people feel complexly about this. fuck off