A Minnesota resident who had protested Israeli military action in Gaza and her husband — the son of a Holocaust survivor — were killed by Hamas terrorists in a kibbutz near the Gaza border that has become synonymous with militant brutality.
Cindy Flash, 67, and Igal Flash, 66, were killed in the safe room of their home in Kfar Aza – a pastoral farming community that turned into a sprawling slaughterhouse on Saturday.
Keren Flash, the couple’s adult daughter, told CNN Thursday that she received a text message from her mother Saturday, saying: “they managed to break into the safe room.”
“That was the last anyone heard from them,” Keren said.
For several days, the fate of his parents was unknown, leading to speculation that they may have been taken to Gaza as hostages.
Cindy Flash, 67, and her husband Igal, were killed by terrorists in their safe room at Kibbutz Kfar Aza.
But just before his interview with CNN, Keren got the sad news that his mother and father had passed away.
The daughter said she was relieved to learn that her parents “seemed to die instantly so at least it was quick and painless.”
Cindy, who is from St. Paul, Minnesota, immigrated to Israel decades ago after falling in love with the country during a visit, USA Today reported.
She is married to Igal, an Israeli, and the couple lives in Kfar Azar — a community just a few miles from the Gaza border that had about 800 residents before Saturday’s massacre, which saw entire families gunned down and babies beheaded and burned.
“Every time there is a military operation, [she] will always protest,” daughter Cindy Flash said, “…because you don’t treat people like that no matter what their religious beliefs are and what their ethnicity is.”Getty Images
Keren said his mother, whom he lovingly described as “all heart and soul,” was a staunch advocate for the rights of the Palestinian people.
“Every time there is a military operation, [she] will always object,” said Keren, “…because you don’t treat people like that no matter what their religious beliefs are or what their ethnicity is.”
“They are some of the best people I’ve ever known,” she added of her parents.
The worst attack on Israel in 50 years: How we got here
2005: Israel unilaterally withdraws from the Gaza Strip three decades after winning the territory from Egypt in the Six-Day War.
2006: The terrorist group Hamas wins Palestinian legislative elections.
2007: Hamas takes control of Gaza in a civil war.
2008: Israel launched a military offensive against Gaza after Palestinian terrorists fired rockets into the city of Sderot.
2023: Hamas launches its biggest attack on Israel in 50 years.
More than 1,300 Israelis have been killed, more than 3,000 injured and at least 100 taken hostage, with the death toll expected to rise after Hamas terrorists fired thousands of rockets and sent dozens of militants into Israeli cities.
Hamas terrorists are seen taking women hostage and parading them through the streets in a gruesome video.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced “We are at war” and promised Hamas would pay an “unprecedented price.”
Gaza health officials reported at least 1,400 Palestinians killed and more than 6,000 wounded.
“They are good people. They care about others. They are fighting for other people’s rights and other people’s voices.”
During the attack on Kfar Aza, Keren, her husband and their 1-year-old daughter were huddled in a safe room in their home just a few doors down from her parents.
The terrorists did not breach their hideout, and they were eventually rescued by the Israeli army and taken to a temporary shelter in Tel Aviv.
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Keren said that even though their kibbutz is close to Gaza, their family has never felt unsafe there.
On Saturday, the Flashes had planned to enjoy a picnic together, followed by the annual community kite event where a DJ would play.
Instead, Keren and his family were woken around 6:30am by the sound of an alarm going off, prompting them to go into their safe room.
For several days, the fate of his parents remained unknown, leading to speculation that they may have been taken to Gaza as hostages, but shortly before his interview with CNN, Keren received the sad news that both his mother and father had died. AFP via Getty Images
His parents did the same in their own home.
Throughout the terrifying time that followed, punctuated by endless explosions and automatic gunfire, as terrorists went door to door systematically killing unarmed civilians, Keren kept in touch with his relatives and friends via chain text messages. .
“We started losing contact with so many people on various WhatsApp groups,” he said.
“We’ll hear that they’re hurt, and then they’ll come down completely.”
About 1,300 people have been killed in Israel during the large-scale surprise attack, among them at least 27 Americans, officials said. Another 3,000 people were injured.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
