The last desperate message of a British mother pleading for help as Hamas fighters shouted “Die Israel” during a murderous attack on her kibbutz home in southern Israel has been disclosed by her family.
“I can hear them. They are at our house. They are shooting and shouting ‘Die Israel’. Please call for help,” were the words sent in terror by Lianne Shirabi moments before relatives lost touch with her.
The Bristol-born mother was later found dead by Israeli soldiers. Her 13-year-old daughter Yahel, who was with her, was also killed.
Another daughter, 16-year-old Noya, and the children’s father Eli were both still missing today, while the girls’ uncle Yossi has been confirmed as kidnapped and taken to the Gaza Strip.
Video footage of the family’s home shows blood on the floor and disorder inside in a further disturbing illustration of the traumatic events that took place there.
Lianne’s sister-in-law Nira said she had received the desperate message from Lianne as the attack by Hamas, a banned terrorist organisation in the UK, US and other countries, was taking place.
“The last contact I had with Lianne and the girls was at about 11am on Saturday morning,” she said.
“She sent me a message saying, ‘Nira, I can hear them. They are here at our house. They are shooting and shouting ‘’Die Israel’’. Please call for help’.
“I told her, ‘Be strong! I am calling for help!’ But 10 minutes later I lost contact with her and the girls. Later we learned that Lianne and Yahel had been murdered. But we don’t know what has happened to Noya and her dad Eli.”
The death of Yahel, who was originally only known to be missing, was confirmed yesterday with her family paying tribute to her in a statement.
“Beautiful Yahel. A bundle of unbridled energy and joy, with a cheekiness that you could not help but smile at and a brain which was sharp as a tack,” they said.
“Full of adventure and mischief, we will forever miss her, but are grateful for the light she brought into our lives in the too short time she was with us.”
The family also described Lianne as “a beloved daughter, sister, mother, aunt and friend who enriched the lives of all those lucky enough to have known and loved her.”
Around 200 people, including citizens of Britain, the US and other countries as well as Israelis, are believed to have been taken captive by Hamas to be held hostage in Gaza. Israel has vowed to secure their release, but Hamas has threatened to kill hostages if attacks on buildings containing civilians take place without adequate warning.
Pictures of Israeli children held hostage by Hamas after they were kidnapped during the terror attacks have been projected onto some of London’s famous buildings from Wembley to Tate Modern.
The images were produced by the #BringThemBack campaign which has raised awareness of their plight with similar displays in cities including New York, Los Angeles and Miami. Among the children pictured was nine-month-old Kfir Bibas, taken with his mother and four-year-old brother.
A spokesperson from the campaign said: “The calculated kidnap of Kfir and other children has shocked and sickened the humane world... our hearts and those of all good people around the globe bleed at the thought of what those beautiful children are going through.”
