KFAR AZA, ISRAEL: Cindy Flash, a 67-year-old American who has advocated for Palestinian rights, now faces an uncertain fate as she and her Israeli husband, Igal, are believed to have been kidnapped by the Palestinian militant group.
The events unfolded in Kfar Aza, a kibbutz located in southern Israel near Gaza, an area affected by the recent violence.
More than 100 Israelis, including numerous foreign nationals, are presumed to be held captive in the Gaza Strip following Hamas's attack on Israel, which has also resulted in the deaths of at least 14 US citizens and left an unknown number unaccounted for.
Where are Cindy Flash and her husband Igal?
Cindy, originally from St Paul, Minnesota, dedicated her life to advocating for the rights of Palestinians, including those living in Gaza, where she may currently be held. After a college visit to Israel, she was captivated by the country's kibbutzim system and chose to make Israel her home.
Her daughter, Keren, 34, described Cindy as a woman with a "sweet, biggest heart" who was cherished by all and who had tirelessly worked for Palestinian rights, even in Gaza.
Cindy and her husband had recently renovated their home in Kfar Aza, which required them to temporarily relocate. The Flash family had anticipated a peaceful Saturday, October 7, planning a family picnic and kite-flying in the local soccer field as part of a community event.
Family clings to hope for the safe return of the Flash Family
Keren, her husband Avidor Schwartzman, and their infant son, Saar, found themselves in a safe room as they heard the sound of bombs going off.
Cindy and Igal also locked themselves in their safe room as the sounds of bombs turned into the deafening noise of automatic gunfire. Hamas militants encircled Kfar Aza, conducting house-to-house searches for residents.
Keren who had been in communication with her parents from a neighboring residence received a harrowing message from Cindy that read, "They are breaking down the safe room door. We need someone to come by the house right now," as per USA Today. "They didn't deserve this," her daughter expressed adding, "No one deserves this."
Reports from Israeli media indicated that Kfar Aza was a scene of "massacre", with the discovery of numerous bodies, including children and babies, some of whom had been beheaded. The official death toll from the Hamas attack in Israel surpassed 1,200.
Despite this, the US and Israeli authorities have provided little information about the whereabouts and status of Cindy and her husband.
However, Keren remains hopeful that her parents will be found, adding, "Anytime someone calls us, any authority from the kibbutz or anywhere, our hearts sink down, and then they say, 'We don't have any new information.'"
