Funeral of Irish-Israeli woman Kim Damti takes place in Israel

Kim Damti, 22, was laid to rest in Gedera, Israel.  Picture: Laura Damti/Facebook

Irish-Israeli woman Kim Damti, who died after Hamas militants attacked a music festival near the Gaza border last weekend, was laid to rest in the town of Gedera in Israel’s Central District on Thursday.

She had been unaccounted for following the surprise attack at the Re'im festival in the south of the country last Saturday. Her family confirmed her death on Wednesday evening.

More than 260 people are believed to have died in the attack. Many more are still missing, and an unspecified number are believed to have been taken hostage by Hamas.

Speaking at her funeral in Gedera, Irish Ambassador to Israel Sonya McGuinness said that Ireland was "appalled" by news of Ms Damti's death.

"She was the best of your community and the best of our community and the best of who we are as a shared people," Ms McGuinness told the hundreds of mourners present.

"Our sincere condolences to you and your entire community and Kim's friends and families. We stand with you."

Kim’s sister Laura paid tribute to her on Facebook, calling her "our angel, our flower. Kim my blood. Who was murdered by the cursed terrorists."

The circumstances of Kim Damti's death were 'truly appalling' said President Higgins. Picture: Laura Damti/Facebook

President Michael D Higgins also paid tribute to Ms Damti, calling the circumstances surrounding her death “truly appalling".

“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,” he said.

President Higgins added that 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.” 

In a statement to RTÉ News, Kim’s aunt Pat Cooper thanked everyone who had supported her family since news of the attack first broke last weekend.

"With heartfelt sorrow the Cooper family announce the death of their beloved niece, Kim Damti,” she said.

“We respectfully request the media to allow us to grieve in the privacy of our family.

Kim Damti's mother Jennifer is originally from Co Laois but now lives in Israel with her family. They regularly return to Ireland.

Former president of Ireland and UN High Commissioner Mary Robinson said that the targeting by Hamas of civilians like Kim Damti constituted “very serious war crimes” that were “not justified by what has been happening to the Palestinian people under occupation.” 

“Irish people are very aware of that," Ms Robinson told RTÉ’s News at One on Thursday.

“It does not justify the horrific killings and the kidnappings which are war crimes. And we must be very, very clear on that,” she said.

“There is no question we have to treat them separately.” Speaking in the Dáil on Thursday, Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin expressed his condolences to Ms Damti’s family in Ireland and Israel on behalf of the Government..

“Anyone looking at the photograph of Kim in the media in recent days will have been struck by the radiance and energy in her expression,” he said.

She was a young 22-year-old with her full life ahead of her only for it to be cut down in a barbaric way.

“Our thoughts remain, in particular, with her family at this very sad moment.”