Israelis and Palestinians experience the drama of losing loved ones in the middle of war
Yoni Asher, an Israeli, saw a video on social media showing his wife, two daughters and motherinlaw being kidnapped by Hamas rebels. And without further details, he also posted an appeal for the health and safety of his family on social media.
“I want to ask Hamas: Don’t hurt them.” Don’t hurt the children, don’t hurt the women. If you want, I’m willing to go in her place,” the man asked.
1 of 3 The Israeli Yoni Asher asks for an exchange for his family kidnapped by Hamas Photo: Reproduction/GloboNews The Israeli Yoni Asher asks for an exchange for his family kidnapped by Hamas Photo: Reproduction/GloboNews
A Palestinian woman, Sabreen Abu Daqqa, said she suffered an airstrike at home and saw everything collapse on her and her family many of them dead.
“I was at home when suddenly I heard a noise and everything collapsed on our heads,” said Sabreen, who lost three family members and another person is missing.
“When they pulled me out of the rubble, I saw everything destroyed, the houses destroyed. And then I was taken to the hospital and saw a lot of dead people,” he said.
2 of 3 Sabreen Abu Daqqa lost at least three family members after an airstrike that landed on her home Photo: Reproduction/GloboNews Sabreen Abu Daqqa lost at least three family members after an airstrike that landed on her home Photo: Reproduction/ GloboNews
Another woman, Ricarda Louk, reported that her daughter was kidnapped by extremist Hamas rebels. And he only found out about this when he received a video, also posted on social media, in which he saw his daughter being taken away unconscious.
“This morning my daughter Shani Nicole Louk, who is a German citizen, was kidnapped by Hamas with a group of tourists in southern Israel. We received a video in which I immediately recognized my unconscious daughter in a car with Palestinians heading towards the Gaza Strip,” he said. “We ask anyone who has information or help to please send it to us.”
3 of 3 Ricarda Louk tries to find her daughter Shani, who was seen unconscious in a group kidnapped by Hamas Photo: Reproduction/GloboNews Ricarda Louk tries to find her daughter Shani, who was seen unconscious in a group kidnapped by Hamas was Photo: Reproduction/ GloboNews
So far, more than 1,200 people have died in the collision. According to a United Nations (UN) survey, around 123,000 people have been internally displaced in the Gaza Strip. The UN agency also said there were reports of food shortages in the region.
The Gaza Strip is a territory controlled by Hamas, which has vowed to destroy Israel and has fought several wars with the country since taking power in Gaza in 2007. The area lies between Israel, Egypt and the Mediterranean and is home to around 2.3 million people one of the highest population densities in the world.
The strip is 41 km long and 10 km wide. Gaza’s airspace and its sea coast are controlled by Israel. The Israelis also restrict what goods and who can enter and leave the region. Egypt, in turn, controls who crosses the border.
According to the United Nations (UN), around 80% of Gaza’s population relies on international aid and 1 million people rely on daily food aid.