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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
World
Miriam Burrell

Missing British teenager was murdered in Hamas kibbutz attack, family confirm

The "heartbroken" family of British teenager Noiya Sharabi have confirmed that she was murdered in the same Hamas attack that her sister and mother were killed in.

Noiya, 16, disappeared after Hamas militants attacked Kibbutz Be’eri in southern Israel on October 7.

Her mother, Bristol-born Lianne, was killed in the attack and her sister Yahel, 13, was also believed to be missing – along with Noiya and their father Eli.

However, last week Yahel was confirmed dead, and now Noiya’s family have told the BBC that she was killed in the attack too.

In a statement provided to the BBC, Noiya’s family said her smile "lit up the room like a beacon".

Her family added that she "embraced every opportunity to help others, particularly those less fortunate than she, and was a gifted student and linguist.

"Most importantly, she was an amazing granddaughter, cousin and niece. We are heartbroken she has gone, but forever grateful she was here."

The girls’ father Eli remains missing.

Following the news of Yahel's death last week, relatives described the teenager as "a bundle of energy" who loved to ride her bike, play football, sing and dance.

Their mother Lianne, 48, first moved to Israel as a volunteer on a kibbutz when she was 19, before relocating to the country permanently, the BBC reported.

British-based relatives of the family said they visited at least once a year.

Lianne messaged family members to say she could hear gunfire and shouting in Arabic nearby, according to the BBC.

The Government had said "at least" nine British nationals were killed in the Hamas attack and a further seven were missing.

Noiya's death was confirmed on Sunday as hundreds of people attended a pro-Israel rally in central London, calling for the safe return of hostages by Hamas.

The "solidarity rally" in Trafalgar Square was organised by a number of groups, including the Board of Deputies of British Jews.

Many in the crowd chanted "bring them home" and held signs that said "release the hostages" while others carried Israeli flags and placards showing the faces of those taken hostage.

The Metropolitan Police said two arrests were made.

Ten people were arrested after fireworks thrown at police officers following a pro-Palestinian march attended by "up to 100,000" from Marble Arch to Downing Street on Saturday, Metropolitan Police said.

In Gaza, Israeli warplanes struck targets, as well as two airports in Syria and a mosque in the occupied West Bank allegedly used by militants.

The two-week-old war with Hamas threatened to spiral into a broader conflict.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told troops in northern Israel that if Hezbollah launches a war, "it will make the mistake of its life".

"We will cripple it with a force it cannot even imagine and the consequences for it and the Lebanese state will be devastating," he said.

Hamas said it fought with Israeli forces near Khan Younis in southern Gaza and destroyed a tank and two bulldozers. The Israeli military said it had no information about the claim.

More than 1,400 people in Israel have been killed — mostly civilians slain during the initial Hamas attack.

At least 212 people were captured and dragged back to Gaza. Two Americans were released on Friday.

More than 4,600 people have been killed in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run Health Ministry. That includes the disputed toll from a hospital explosion.

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