Missing Irish-Israeli woman's relatives 'only have hope'
Irish-Israeli woman Kim Damti has been missing since Saturday
At a glance
The Irish Department of Foreign Affairs says it has been in contact with the family of an Irish-Israeli woman in her 20s who is unaccounted for in Israel
It follows a wave of attacks launched by the Hamas militant group on Saturday morning
Kim Damti's family have said they are "devastated" and hopeful for her return
Irish President Michael D Higgins has said his thoughts are with the Damti family
- Published
Irish relatives of a missing Irish-Israeli woman have said they are "devastated" and they "only have hope".
Kim Damti, 22, was at the Supernova music festival in Re'im in southern Israel when she was last seen.
It follows a wave of attacks launched by the Hamas militant group on Saturday.
More than 260 bodies have been recovered from the festival site, according to rescue agency Zaka.
Kim Damti was last seen at the Supernova festival near Re'im in southern Israel
In a statement issued to Irish broadcaster RTÉ, her aunt Pat Cooper from County Laois, described Ms Damti as "gorgeous, bright and intelligent with a big heart full of kindness and compassion".
Ms Cooper said her niece visited Ireland this summer to celebrate a family wedding.
She said the "whole Cooper clan, their neighbours and friends are devastated and for now all we have is hope".
"Our hearts and minds are in Israel with Jennifer's family and Kim’s friends," the statement added.
'Mummy, what should I do?'
Irishwoman Jennifer Damti (centre) pictured alongside her other daughters
Kim's Irish mother, Jennifer Damti, said she last spoke to her daughter at 06:30 local time on Saturday, just as militants launched their attack.
Her daughter ask: "Mummy, what should I do?".
Kim's brother instructed his sister to take shelter. The family have not heard from her since.
"Kim didn’t realise that there was seven or eight Toyota vans full of terrorists,” Jennifer Damti, told ABC News on Sunday., external
"They just shot everywhere, slaughtered them like dogs," she said.
Israel partygoers who witnessed militant attack
On Saturday, the Palestinian militant group Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on Israel, with its fighters entering communities near the Gaza Strip, killing hundreds of residents and taking dozens of hostages.
Although the attack by the militants on 7 October came without warning, it happened at a time of soaring Israeli-Palestinian tensions.
About 900 people have died in Israel since Saturday's attacks, including 260 at the festival.
Almost 690 people have been killed by air strikes in Gaza, Palestinian authorities have said, and the Israeli military said it has found the bodies of 1,500 militants.
On Tuesday, Israel said they had regained control of the border with Gaza.
Partygoers run as gunshots heard in Israel
On Monday, Irish President Michael D Higgins issued a statement calling for "an immediate end to the killing".
"I send my deepest condolences to all of the families of the victims, and our thoughts at this time are, in particular, with the family of Kim Damti our fellow citizen," he added.
Taoiseach (prime minister) Leo Varadkar has condemned what he described as an "appalling" surprise attack by Hamas and called for an end to hostilities.
He added that the Irish Embassy was willing to offer assistance to any Irish or dual citizens caught up in the attacks.
Tánaiste (deputy prime minister) Micheál Martin also appealed to all involved to "de-escalate" the situation as soon as possible.
The Irish Department of Foreign Affairs said it has been in contact with Kim Damti's family but they do not intend on commenting specifically on the case at this time.
More on Hamas-Israel attacks
Watch: How Hamas' shock attack on Israel unfolded
- Published21 October
- Published9 October 2023
- Published10 October 2023
