Tel Aviv, October 19: The 12-year-old autistic Israeli girl who caught the world's attention after Harry Potter author JK Rowling called Hamas despicable for kidnapping her has been found dead. Noya Dan was reportedly killed in front of her grandmother. JK Rowling had made an appeal to rescue the autistic girl and her 80-year-old grandmother, who were believed to be among those held hostage in Gaza following the Hamas attack on October 7. Time Magazine Cover Features Israel-Hamas War As Families of Israelis Held Hostage by Hamas Speak Out (View Pic).

The Dan family confirmed on Facebook that the bodies of Noya and Carmela had been identified. The Israeli Minister of Foreign Affairs also confirmed their deaths. "We are devastated to announce that Noya and her grandmother Carmela’s bodies were discovered yesterday. Thank you to all of you who shared her story to help us bring her home. Our hearts are broken,” Israel posted on X, formerly Twitter. Israel-Hamas War: Protestors Gather At US Capitol Urging Ceasefire in Gaza, Several Arrested (Watch Video).

Israeli Girl Noya Dan Dies

According to Israeli authorities, more than 1,400 people in Israel have been killed, and at least 199 others, including children, were captured by Hamas and taken into Gaza. The Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry said Wednesday that 3,478 Palestinians have been killed and more than 12,000 injured in the past 11 days. The United Nations on Thursday said that 12 of its workers had been killed in the fighting in Gaza since Saturday. Israel said Thursday it had confirmed the identities of 97 hostages taken to Gaza.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 19, 2023 02:58 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).