Current:Home > reviewsPoinbank:'I just want her back': Israeli mom worries daughter taken hostage by Hamas militants -WealthTrack
Poinbank:'I just want her back': Israeli mom worries daughter taken hostage by Hamas militants
Robert Brown View
Date:2025-04-11 10:33:36
TEL AVIV -- As Jennifer Damti sat between her two daughters in her Tel Aviv home Sunday,Poinbank she was unable to hold back tears, saying she is worried sick that her youngest child was taken hostage in the surprise attack launched by Hamas militants.
Damti told ABC News her 22-year-old daughter, Kim, whom she described as having big green eyes and a huge smile, is missing, possibly one of a large crowd of desert partygoers set upon by armed men in vans and wearing balaclavas.
She said she last heard from her daughter in a phone call Saturday at 6:30 a.m. local time just as Hamas militants launched a surprise attack on Israel, indiscriminately firing thousands of missiles from Gaza into southern and central Israel, including Tel Aviv. Damti said as the militant moved in on the party Kim was attending, her daughter asked, "Mummy, what should I do?"
Damti said her son took the phone and told his sister to find shelter. Since then, they haven't heard from her.
As the missile attack was commencing, Hamas militants on motorcycles and in vehicles stormed blockaded areas of Gaza and infiltrated Israel, officials in Israel said.
Video footage emerged of Hamas terrorists shooting Israelis and taking others hostage.
The Israeli government confirmed that a number of civilians and soldiers have been taken hostage. At least 100 Israeli citizens and soldiers are being held hostage by Hamas fighters, Israel's Government Press Office said Sunday.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the Biden administration is trying to confirm reports that Americans are among those killed or taken captive.
As of Sunday afternoon, at least 700 people had been killed in Israel by Hamas and another 2,100 have been injured, the Israeli Health Ministry said. Israeli rescue service Zaka said at least 260 bodies were removed from the venue of the music festival in southern Israel that came under a Hamas attack.
The Palestinian Health Ministry said 370 are dead and 2,200 others are injured in Gaza in retaliatory strikes by Israeli jet fighters and soldiers.
Israeli Prime Minister has declared "Israel is at war."
"Kim didn’t realize seven or eight Toyota vans (were) full of terrorists,” Damti, crying, said of her daughter. "They just shot everywhere. They slaughtered them like ducks. This behavior is barbaric. I didn’t bring my children up to hate anybody. I’m asking the world to condemn this."
Damti said the family hasn’t slept since the onset of the attack as they wait by the phone for word on her daughter's fate.
She said her daughter's father and brother have been traveling from hospital to hospital with a hairbrush containing Kim's hair, hoping for a DNA match and some answers.
MORE: Timeline of surprise rocket attack by Hamas on Israel
Damti showed ABC News a photo of her missing daughter, pointing out her unique curly blond hair.
"I know my daughter, she’s a gentle loving person, who wants to make the world a better place. I don’t know if we’ll get her back," Damti said.
The thought of never seeing her daughter again prompted more tears and fears that the worst had befallen her girl.
MORE: Hamas attacks in Israel: Airlines that have suspended flights amid travel advisory
"Maybe she’s been taken as a hostage in Gaza. I don’t want to think about that. Maybe she’s hiding somewhere. She’s clever. Or maybe -- I don’t know... I don’t even want to think." she said.
Damti's other daughter, Emily, said the family has also been combing through online videos of kidnappings and killings they said were carried out by Hamas militants, looking for any sign of her sister. But Emily said their search has yet to produce "nothing.".
“You can’t sleep. All I can think about is where she is," Damti said. "If she’s suffering, if she’s still alive. I just want her back. I have three daughters. I can’t imagine my life without Kim."
ABC News' Bill Hutchinson contributed to this report.
veryGood! (51511)
Related
- Macy's says employee who allegedly hid $150 million in expenses had no major 'impact'
- Jenna Ortega speaks out on age-gap controversy with Martin Freeman in 'Miller's Girl'
- Freddie Freeman's emotional return to Dodgers includes standing ovation in first at bat
- Rachel Lindsay Details Being Scared and Weirded Out by Bryan Abasolo's Proposal on The Bachelorette
- Taylor Swift makes surprise visit to Kansas City children’s hospital
- Customers line up on Ohio’s first day of recreational marijuana sales
- 49-year-old skateboarder Dallas Oberholzer makes mom proud at Paris Olympics
- Microsoft hits back at Delta after the airline said last month’s tech outage cost it $500 million
- Retirement planning: 3 crucial moves everyone should make before 2025
- As the Paris Olympics wind down, Los Angeles swings into planning for 2028
Ranking
- Highlights from Trump’s interview with Time magazine
- Enjoy this era of U.S. men's basketball Olympic superstars while you still can
- USA basketball players juggle motherhood and chasing 8th gold medal at Paris Olympics
- See damage left by Debby: Photos show flooded streets, downed trees after hurricane washes ashore
- NHL in ASL returns, delivering American Sign Language analysis for Deaf community at Winter Classic
- USA men's basketball vs Brazil live updates: Start time, how to watch Olympic quarterfinal
- NCAA Division I board proposes revenue distribution units for women's basketball tournament
- Lucille Ball's daughter shares rare photo with brother Desi Arnaz Jr.
Recommendation
'Malcolm in the Middle’ to return with new episodes featuring Frankie Muniz
Cole Hocker shocks the world to win gold in men's 1,500
How Lahaina’s more than 150-year-old banyan tree is coming back to life after devastating fire
Victory! White Sox finally snap 21-game losing streak, longest in AL history
Kylie Jenner Shows Off Sweet Notes From Nieces Dream Kardashian & Chicago West
Federal appeals court upholds Maryland’s ban on assault-style weapons
Why is 'Brightwood' going viral now? Here's what's behind the horror sensation
Flush with federal funds, dam removal advocates seize opportunity to open up rivers, restore habitat