KFAR AZA, Israel — A St. Paul native and her husband are missing and feared dead after they vanished during the escalating violence in southern Israel near Gaza.
Family members said they haven't heard from Cindy Flash, 67, since Saturday. They fear she may have been kidnapped or killed by Hamas, as her home sits along a Gaza border fence breached by Hamas militants; however, her family said they continue to wait for official word on her fate and that of her Israeli husband, Igal.
Flash's daughter Keren first shared her mother's story with USA Today and confirmed the details in conversations with KARE 11 anchor Jana Shortal.
Flash worked at a local college in southern Israel and advocated for peace and Palestinian rights.
Keren lives a few homes away and was exchanging text messages with her mother on Saturday morning as the sounds of explosions and gunfire filled their neighborhood.
"They are breaking down the safe room door, we need someone to come by the house right now," was one of the final messages Cindy sent to her daughter.
Keren, who has since evacuated the region, said Cindy emigrated to southern Israel from Minnesota several decades ago after falling in love with the Israeli system of community known as kibbutzim.
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