Maidenhead family ‘devastated’ by uncle’s death in Hamas attack

David Karol was killed in his home in Kibbutz Be'eri in Israel, his family says

A man has spoken of the "devastating loss" of his uncle who was killed during Hamas' attack on Israel.

David Karol, 72, was caught up in the violence at his home in Kibbutz Be'eri on 7 October.

Aaron Kader, from Maidenhead, found out 15 days later his uncle was one of those killed when he was identified through DNA.

He said: "We still do not know how he died, all we know is that his home was completely burnt to the ground."

Israel has been bombarding Gaza for more than a month and launched a major ground offensive in response to the attack by Hamas gunmen in which 1,400 people were killed and 240 others taken hostage.

Mr Karol was born in Israel, he lived with his wife and daughter in the kibbutz. They managed to escape and are now "safe and relocated", said Mr Kader.

After confirming Mr Karol's death, his nephew said he "was a huge part of our family, the life and soul of it".

"He was a larger than life character, who had the ability to make us all laugh," he added.

"The hardest part was waiting and hoping to hear if he had managed to escape, hide somewhere or was kidnapped like many others."

Some 240 people are thought to be held: Israelis and foreigners, soldiers and civilians and old and young. Demonstrations and pleas to bring them home are becoming more urgent.

Mr Kader hopes "those kidnapped are safely returned to their families" and "hopes the country can find peace".

Follow BBC South on Facebook, X, or Instagram. Send your story ideas to [e-mail].