A British woman living in Israel has asked for help “from all over the world” to find her son who has gone missing after attending a music festival that was attacked by Hamas.
Miriam Shaffir’s son Dor, 30, and his girlfriend Savion haven’t been seen since the Palestinian militant group attacked the “Psydak`” nature party close to the southern city of Sderot, near the Gaza border on Saturday.
So far, more than 260 bodies have reportedly been recovered from the festival site, while many more festival goers have been reported as missing.
Speaking to The Epoch Times, Mrs. Shaffir—who was born and raised in England—said she doesn’t know if her son is in shelter, or if he’s been kidnapped by Hamas.
“We have no idea where they are. We are asking for help from all over the world to help us find them, in Gaza or in Israel,” she said.
“We know that yesterday at 7:03 a.m., a friend of Savion’s was contacted via phone, and they said that they found shelter in a Migunit (public security room).
“Since then, we don’t know where they are. The police said that they located their phones in the area of Kibbutz Reim, which is a very large range, and it does not point to a specific area.
Only Son
Mrs. Shaffir, a mother of four, has appealed directly to the British and Irish governments for help in locating her only son.“I was born and raised in England to an English father and an Irish mother,” she said.
“This means that I am a British citizen as well as an Irish citizen. I live in Israel, married to Itzik, and we have four children, who are also British and Irish citizens by virtue of the fact that they are my children.
She added: “We are asking for help from all over the world to help us locate them, with an emphasis on England and Ireland who will come to our aid.”
According to the Times of London, more than ten Britons are feared dead or missing after the Hamas offensive in southern Israel over the weekend.
Nathanel Young, 20, was serving in the Israeli army when he was killed in the surprise attack by Palestinian militants, which began on Saturday.
The former pupil at JFS Jewish school in Kenton, north London, had been living in the Bayit Shel Benji lone-soldier house in Raanana, according to the Jewish News.
Jack Marlowe, 26, who went to the same London school as Mr. Young, is believed to be missing, while photographer Dan Darlington is feared to be dead.
Mr. Darlington and his friend Carolin Bohl were in Kibbutz Nir Oz when it was attacked by Hamas fighters.
Mrs. Shaffir said her family are in turmoil as they await news on whether Dor and Savion are alive.
She told The Epoch Times: “We are in a very difficult mental state. We have not slept since yesterday morning. We are collapsing physically.
“We have three other daughters, a son-in-law and a granddaughter, and we are just trying to stay together and pray. Savion has very elderly parents who are in a difficult mental state as well.”
The grandmother said that while the two families are supporting each other, as time goes on with no news “our fear that they have been kidnapped increases.”
War Crime
Around 50,000 to 60,000 British nationals are believed to be in either Israel or Gaza, the government estimates, amid concerns for their safety following the latest upsurge in violence in the region.At least 700 people have reportedly been killed in Israel and more than 400 have been killed in Gaza, over two days after Hamas launched its unprecedented attack.
On Monday, Israel’s military ordered a complete siege on the Gaza Strip, halting the entry of food, fuel and supplies to its 2.3 million people as it pounded the Hamas-ruled territory with waves of air strikes in retaliation for the militants’ bloody weekend incursion.
The Foreign Office has advised against all but essential travel to the region due to the conflict.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who spoke to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday, has promised to offer Israel any support it needs as it hits back at the Palestinian militants.
He is due to hold a Cobra meeting on Monday afternoon, which will also be attended by Foreign Secretary James Cleverly and Home Secretary Suella Braverman.
Mrs. Shaffir said what is happening in Israel is “a war crime.”
“We are asking the whole world to condemn the terrorist attack, and help to return all the captives from Gaza immediately,” she said.
“I repeat that my son is a British and Irish citizen, and we need help from all the nations of the world.
“What is happening here is a war crime. These are young people who were at nature parties and families who ate together at Shabbat dinner and were slaughtered. Help us.”
