A young Laois-Israeli woman who was missing following an attack by Hamas has been found dead.
Kim Damti was attending the Tribe of Nova trance music festival in the desert near the Gaza-Israel border, one of the first targets in the massacre, when the red alert was announced.
Kim has been a regular visitor to Laois over the years as her mother, Jennifer, is a member of the well-known Cooper family from Coolrain.
In a statement to RTÉ News, her aunt Pat Cooper said: “With heartfelt sorrow the Cooper family announce the death of their beloved niece, Kim Damti.
“We thank all those who have supported us with love and encouragement over the past five days.
“We respectfully request the media to allow us to grieve in the privacy of our family.”
In a post on social media, her sister Laura paid tribute to her, saying that Ms Damti’s funeral would be held tomorrow.
“With great sorrow and gloomy grief, I announce the killing of our angel, our flower, Kim my blood, who was murdered by the cursed terrorists,” she said.
“The funeral will take place tomorrow at 5pm at the cemetery in Gedera.”
In a statement tonight Tánaiste Micheál Martin paid tribute to her, saying she had a whole life ahead of her full of promise.
“When news reached us over the weekend that an Irish citizen was one of the many hundreds missing after the repugnant terrorist attack by Hamas in Israel, we hoped against hope that she would be found safely,” he said.
He added: “The news that this hope has now been extinguished is devastating.”
“Anyone looking at the photo of Kim in the media over the last few days will have been struck by the radiance and energy in her expression; a young 22-year-old woman with a whole life ahead of her, full of promise.”
“For anyone to lose a child is devastating. To lose a child in such circumstances is indescribable.
“Our thoughts remain with all the families of those who have died, who are injured or who are missing in the wake of these terrible events.
“May her memory be a blessing.”
May Kim Rest in Peace.
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