Who is LeElle Slifer? Devastated American whose family might be slaughtered by Hamas recalls horrifying experience
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: A devastated American, whose family members might have been slaughtered or taken hostage, recalled their horrifying experience and encouraged others to share pictures and videos of the brutal attacks.
"There is no nuance in this situation. This is evil," LeElle Slifer told Fox News.
This comes after Israel was forced to defend itself from the cowardly attack by Hamas following the Palestinian militant group's wide-scale attack on the Jewish state last weekend.
Hamas has killed more than 1,300 Israeli civilians, and Israel's retaliatory strikes have killed more than 1,500 Palestinians, officials from both parties said on Friday, October 13.
As of now, Hamas is considered to have taken at least 150 hostages.
LeElle Slifer spotted her mother’s cousin in a video
Slifer said she spotted her mother’s cousin, Kinneret, in a video of hostages with Hamas terrorists.
She saw another video a couple of days later which she believes shows Kinneret’s lifeless body. Kinneret’s body has still not been found.
"I am so thankful that we live in an age where we can quickly disseminate the truth because there is no arguing with pictures and videos," she said.
"And unless people look at these things and see what pure evil looks like, we’ll never be able to stop it," she added.
Kinneret’s family, including her son Alon, daughter-in-law Yarden, granddaughter Gefen and daughter Carmel were visiting for the Jewish holiday of Simchat Torah when they awoke on Saturday morning, October 14, to sirens.
The family initially texted loved ones from their kibbutz bordering Gaza, but after a few hours no one heard from them.
"The terrorists had come in one by one and taken everyone out of the house," Slifer said, adding "They put Alon and Yarden into a car with four terrorists."
LeElle Slifer said the terrorists stopped at one point to investigate a tank
Slifer said when the terrorists stopped at one point to investigate a tank, the couple decided to make a run for their lives.
"Alon’s hands were tied and he knew that if they went to Gaza it could be the end, so he told Yarden, ‘We have to do something,’" Slifer said.
"Yarden was holding her daughter Gefen and when she couldn’t hold her anymore, she passed her off to Alon," Slifer continued, adding "The terrorists started chasing after them and shooting."
Slifer said Yarden split from her husband and daughter to find a different hiding spot.
"Alon and Gefen hid for 24 hours in a field — a three-year-old little girl," Slifer said, adding "Thank God they were safe and they made it back to the kibbutz to tell us what had happened."
Alon went back several times to search for Yarden’s body
According to Slifer, Alon made several desperate attempts to search for Yarden’s body but has still not found it. Carmel is also missing.
"I have nothing but hope," Slifer said, adding "I will keep hoping for their safe return."
Slifer said she cannot stop searching the internet for more signs of life of her family members.
"I'm sitting in the safety of my own home and watching this video, that juxtaposition of life and death is incredibly disorienting," she said.
"I have to see these things, and I have to see these images," she added.
LeElle Slifer said she trusts Israel
"Israel cares for innocent people, no matter whether they are Palestinian or Jewish," she said, adding "They don't want to hurt anyone and so I have to believe that they are doing everything possible to bring their people home unharmed and to cause as little harm as possible to any innocent civilians and that they know what they're doing."
Slifer further said that she is concerned about Hamas using civilians to control the world. "They want to show these bodies to the world and they use them as human shields," she said. "It worries me greatly."