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.
You’re reading a whole lot of shit I didn’t say here.
Never said you did.
My only real opinion there is that Israel is an American ally and doesn’t side with the people running around chanting death to America, so I’m roughly on their side in that respect.
The emotional aspects don’t matter and I don’t particularly care about deaths on either side when they’re all an ocean away. It’s just two countries at war. They’re both full of religious nutters, although Israel also probably wouldn’t kill me for being an atheist so they’re less bad in that respect as well.
And I said this lady was stupid for trying to help and aid a group of people who is really just hilariously evil. You’re wasting your time and putting yourself in danger. I didn’t justify any killings.