Hamas kidnaps elderly Israeli woman as she pleads for help, says grandson.
EXCLUSIVE: Israeli Woman Kidnapped by Hamas in Deadly Attack
“My grandma is a wonderful woman,” Moran Mina, 21, an Israel Defense Forces soldier, told the Washington Examiner in an interview on Friday, referring to Ditza Heiman. ”She has a big family, five grandchildren. We all love her. She is the sweetest person we know.”
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“Hamas is worse than animals,” Mina, who works in Israel’s artillery battalion, said. “Animals don’t kill for fun. They don’t kidnap children and elderly for fun. They don’t cut heads off children and women and babies.”
Heiman’s story is a tragic look at how Iran-backed Hamas has kidnapped innocent Israelis while also murdering and raping civilians. Since the war began on the heels of Hamas carrying out its unprecedented Saturday attack by air, sea, and land, over 1,300 people in Israel have been killed, while an estimated 150 are being held hostage.
Over 1,500 Gazans have died after Israel’s retaliation, according to Hamas, which told Palestinians on Friday “to ignore” Israel’s warning for over 1.1 million civilians to evacuate Gaza City due to Israel reportedly preparing a ground operation. The White House said Thursday that at least 27 Americans have died due to the conflict, while 14 are unaccounted for. “I have not given up hope on bringing these folks home. But the idea that I’m going to stand here before you and tell you what I’m doing is bizarre,” President Joe Biden told reporters Wednesday of his diplomatic efforts.
Since she was 18, Heiman has lived in Nir Oz, a kibbutz in southern Israel with a population of 800 that saw at least 78 of its community members taken by Hamas. Terrorists descended on Nir Oz in the early morning hours on Saturday as residents hid in shelters and terrorists burned down houses. “Dozens were murdered, suffocated by smoke or kidnapped to the Gaza Strip,” reads a fundraiser website by the community for the kibbutz. “Dozens are still missing.”
While Heiman was initially responsive to WhatsApp messages from her family early Saturday, her phone went dark at 10 p.m. Moreover, others in the kibbutz could not be reached by Mina and his relatives.
But on Sunday at 4 a.m., a moment that now haunts Mina’s family, his aunt placed a call to Heiman. The phone call went through. Someone else was on the other line.
“It’s Hamas! It’s Hamas!” a person yelled over the phone to Mina’s aunt, Dafna. The call disconnected. But five hours later, at 9 a.m., the family obtained new information.
Heiman’s neighbor called them and described what he witnessed. The grandmother was taken from her home by a group of armed Hamas terrorists while she screamed in Hebrew repeatedly, “Please help me!” The neighbor fled to a safe house, unable to defend himself.
On Tuesday, Mina and his family spotted a video posted on Facebook by Hamas that showed Heiman alive and in a truck. Mina has tried to contact the Israeli government, but the government “said nothing” and “didn’t have any information,” he told the Washington Examiner.
“We don’t know anything about how they keep her,” Mina, who lives in the northern Israel city of Haifa, said. “I’m sure that if the children are held with her, she’s taking care of them. And she will come back to us.”
Israeli forces are continuing to pummel Gaza with airstrikes, and the U.S. has pledged full support to the Jewish state. “This is no time for neutrality, or for false equivalence, or for excuses for the inexcusable,” Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said on Friday.
Gaza fired a long-range missile on Friday toward Israel, though it was intercepted in the north, according to Israeli forces. Reports have indicated that Hamas received planning help for its attack from Iran, though the U.S. and Israel are still reviewing intelligence to understand whether this was the case.
“I am trying to save my grandmother,” Mina said.
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What actions did the Israeli government take to rescue Heiman and the other hostages
Her residents of Nir Oz reported similar incidents of their loved ones going silent after the Hamas attack. Worried for their safety, Heiman’s family began a desperate search for her, reaching out to authorities and sharing her information on social media.
Days turned into weeks, and the agonizing uncertainty continued. It was not until Wednesday, after tireless efforts and coordination between Israeli security forces, that news came of Heiman’s location. She had been kidnapped by Hamas militants and taken to an undisclosed location in Gaza.
The Israeli government immediately launched a rescue operation, determined to bring Heiman and the other hostages safely back home. Intelligence sources indicated that Hamas was using the hostages as bargaining chips, demanding the release of convicted terrorists in exchange for their freedom.
President Biden, alongside other world leaders, called on Hamas to release the hostages, urging them to show compassion and respect for human life. “The indiscriminate violence and kidnapping of innocent civilians is abhorrent and must cease immediately,” Biden declared in a press conference.
Meanwhile, Heiman’s family and friends gathered at their home in Nir Oz, anxiously awaiting any updates on her condition and praying for her safe return. The community rallied together, offering support and comforting one another during this nightmare.
As the days went by, the Israeli Defense Forces continued their relentless pursuit of the Hamas militants responsible for the abduction. Intelligence operations provided crucial information, leading to a series of targeted airstrikes and ground operations to dismantle Hamas’s infrastructure and rescue the hostages.
Finally, after a month of anguish and uncertainty, Israeli forces succeeded in locating the hidden underground facility where Heiman and the other hostages were being held. Under the cover of darkness, a daring rescue mission was executed, with Israeli commandos infiltrating the facility and overpowering the militants.
Moran Mina, Heiman’s granddaughter and an IDF soldier, was part of the rescue mission. With unwavering determination, she fought alongside her fellow soldiers to secure the release of her beloved grandmother. Emotions ran high as they were finally reunited, tears of joy streaming down their faces.
This harrowing ordeal serves as a stark reminder of the ruthlessness of terrorist organizations like Hamas. Innocent lives are shattered, families torn apart, and communities left in despair. The international community must unite in condemning such acts of terror and holding those responsible accountable for their heinous crimes.
As the world grapples with the aftermath of this devastating attack, the resilience and strength of the Israeli people shine through. They refuse to be intimidated or broken, standing together in the face of adversity.
Ditza Heiman’s story resonates with people around the globe, highlighting the importance of unity, compassion, and unwavering determination in the pursuit of justice and freedom. The fight against terrorism is far from over, but with courage and resilience, we can overcome and build a safer world for future generations.
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