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.
Hamas isn’t Palestine. They don’t represent the Palestinian people. It’s not because Hamas took her that she was betrayed by Palestinians.
Do they represent the Palestinians who voted for them? I mean, I get it, Nazi Republicans don’t represent me. But there are some Americans these fascists do represent.
Also, the pro-Hamas supporters are also Palestinians., right?
I think it’s best highlighted that not all Palestinans support Hamas instead of pretending there’s none who do. You can also point out that in the west Bank Fatah is the dominate party, and the West Bank are Palestinians also.
There’s endless threads lately trying to equate Hamas with all Palestinians, and lots of threads trying to say they represent none of the Palestinians. Neither is true.
No I guess you’re right. I mean if they represented no one, there wouldn’t be a Hamas. But I’m fairly certain that’s a minority. The rest, the regular people, just want peace and a normal life.
It does not matter in this case whether they have support or not. Israel funded Hamas against the PLO, hoping to deter a two state solution by pointing to the angry Islamists they funded. Netanyahu openly said it, and bragged.
They even assassinated other leg secular leaders. Netanyahu and the Mossad are responsible for tying the fate of the Palestinians to Hamas. And they share responsibility for the slaughter too.
The more I read the more it seem Hamas works for Bibi.
Bibi was having a popularity problem. Now it doesn’t matter.
The targets are mostly from the opposition to Bibi.
This gives him the excuse he was waiting to level Gaza.
Too many timely coincidences.
But maybe I’m just being paranoid.
Right? It’s just too convenient.
Netanyahu and the Mossad literally funded Hamas against the left secular PLO. They have the blood of innocents on their hands.
Do you have any sources about this? I wouldn’t have any trouble believing you, but I always prefer when there’s facts to look up.
Good instinct to ask for sources, but I’d add that one can never underestimate the depravity capable by an apartheid, genocidal state.
https://theintercept.com/2018/02/19/hamas-israel-palestine-conflict/
Oooooooooohhhhh wow! Holy shit.
Amazing article. Thank you so much.
They enjoy very wide support amongst the populace so they do represent many Palestinians, probably a majority?
Because they control the infrastructure, hospitals etc. This is the result of Israel assassinating other political leaders and funding Hamas. Netanyahu and the Mossad did it on purpose. Its their own fault.