Tributes paid as Irish-Israeli woman Kim Damti confirmed dead after Hamas attack

Kim Damti. Picture: Facebook/Laura Damti

Missing Irish-Israeli woman Kim Damti (22) has been confirmed dead following the Hamas attack on a music festival in Israel last weekend.

Ms Damti had been unaccounted for since Hamas gunmen opened fire on festival-goers on Saturday, but in a post on social media on Wednesday night, her sister Laura confirmed that she had died.

“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.

Kim Damti's funeral will take place later today in Gedera, according to a social media post made by her sister. 

An unprecedented attack was launched by Hamas at the weekend, with thousands of rockets fired into Israel and militants breaking down wire fences and entering Israeli villages.

Ms Damti was attending a music festival near the Gaza border when gunmen arrived at the site.

In an interview with ABC News after the attack, her mother Jennifer Damti said her daughter had phoned them in a panic after gunmen opened fire.

“I just want her back,” she told ABC on Sunday.

On Wednesday night, President Michael D Higgins paid tribute to Kim Damti and offered his condolences to her family. 

"The circumstances in which her life was taken, having travelled as she did to attend a music festival, are truly appalling," he said in a statement. 

"It is not only those of us who are parents, but all of those who feel that young people should be free to attend events with their peers in conditions of safety, who will find such circumstances where a young life is taken so appalling.

"Kim's death once again reminds us what an outrageous breach of fundamental international law in conditions of conflict it is to target civilians in this way."

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said the nation would mourn for Kim Damti. 

"This vibrant young Irish-Israeli woman was struck down in her prime, with her adult life ahead of her. Her death, and the deaths of more than a thousand other citizens of Israel and from around the world, was senseless and barbaric.

“Kim gave happiness and joy to her family and those around her."

Tánaiste Micheál Martin also offered his condolences to the family.

"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. The news that this hope has now been extinguished is devastating," Mr Martin said.

"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."

Earlier, Mr Varadkar had warned the Israeli government that international solidarity with it could "evaporate" if its response in Gaza is disproportionate.

"We very much oppose the fact that civilian infrastructure (in Gaza) has been cut off, like water, electricity, we think that's very much the wrong approach," he said.

On Wednesday night, Fine Gael members unanimously agreed to send a letter of condolence to the Israeli embassy following the weekend attack.

A meeting of the parliamentary party agreed to send the letter which will also include an appeal for restraint and adherence to international law.

Enterprise Minister Simon Coveney told party colleagues that the recent Hamas attacks have to be condemned unreservedly as an act of terrorism.

He also emphasised the need for de-escalation of violence and adherence to international law to protect innocent civilians in Gaza.