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.

  • Sparlock@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    Deliberately cutting off water, electricity and medical aid will result directly in children dying. Again I find it hard to see the difference between civilian A and civilian B being killed just on the basis of WHO killed them. But you do you.

      • jarfil@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        Not sure if you refer to Hamas, or the possible Israeli land invasion.

        • NekoKamiGuru@ttrpg.network
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          1 year ago

          Hamas , since killing civilians was not collateral damage for their plan on oct 7 , it was sanctioned and approved by every level of the Hamas command structure as an objective of their attack.

          • jarfil@lemmy.world
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            1 year ago

            Interesting you’d say this 19 days later, after:

            How many times “collateral damage” is fine? All of it?

    • flossdaily@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      Again, you’re pretending that INTENTION doesn’t matter. That collateral damage is morally equivalent to a targeted killing.

      I just 100 percent disagree.

      • Sparlock@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        What other result is there for INTENTIONALLY cutting off food, water and electricity. BTW I just asked my 12 yr old if I cut off the food water and electricity to a population would mean I be responsible for the deaths and her answer was “DUH!” This isn’t hard man.

        • flossdaily@lemmy.world
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          1 year ago

          That’s fine. Maybe if we ask Hamas to be nice and come out, they’ll stop using all those people as a human shield.

          Go lecture them. You’re very persuasive.

      • Cethin@lemmy.zip
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        1 year ago

        They’re intentionally killing civilians. It’s equally targeted. It’s not just collateral damage any more than nuking a civilian populace to kill one person is collateral damage. They also intentionally targeted and bombed the border crossing between Egypt and Gaza after telling civilians to flee there.

        Just because one side can kill the other with technology and superior firepower doesn’t make it morally different.