Harry Potter fan, 12, taken hostage by Hamas is found dead with her grandma

19 October 2023 , 09:28

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Noya Dan, 12, who was taken hostage by Hamas has tragically been confirmed dead

A 12-year-old Harry Potter fan missing after being taken by Hamas has tragically been found dead, Israel has confirmed.

Noya Dan, 12, went missing alongside alongside her grandmother Carmela, 80, from the Israeli Kibbutz Nir-Oz last Saturday. Noya, who was autistic and a huge fan of the series, was taken hostage by Hamas after the violence in the village near the Gaza border on October 7.

Israel confirmed Noya and Carmela's death on Thursday, despite pleas from Harry Potter author J K Rowling highlighting their situation. In a statement on X, formerly Twitter, Israel said: "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." The Dan family have also confirmed the devastating news online, with both Noya and her grandmother's bodies having been identified.

Noya pictured with grandmother, Carmela, 80 (Twitter)

Galit Dan, 53, previously told how she listened helplessly from five miles away as her daughter was taken. Terrified Noya had whispered "help me" in a voice message as militants took her away.

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A picture released by her family shows her smiling in her Gryffindor costume clutching a wand and a Hebrew copy of penultimate Harry Potter instalment, the Half-Blood Prince. Author J K Rowling called the kidnapping of children "despicable" and "wholly unjustifiable".

Speaking out over Noya's disappearance, she said: "For obvious reasons, this picture has hit home with me. May Noya and all hostages taken by Hamas be returned soon, safely, to their families." Tagging the author to raise awareness of her plight, Israel previously said: "This beautiful 12 year old girl with autism was kidnapped from her home by Hamas terrorists and was taken to Gaza. Noya, is sensitive, kind, funny and a massive Harry Potter fan."

J K Rowling issued an appeal to find Harry Potter superfan Noya alive, branding the kidnapping of children 'despicable' (Twitter)

More than half of residents in Kibbutz Nir-Oz were killed when Hamas pillaged the village close to the border in the early morning of Saturday, October 7. Many were also taken hostage across the border and either remain missing, or have tragically been confirmed dead. The terror group also stormed the Supernova music festival in Kibbutz Re'im, about 3km from the Gaza border, killing around 260 people with many more missing.

The spree of violence has led to Israel launching multiple attacks on Gaza. As of Thursday, an estimated 3,400 Palestinians have been killed as well as 1,300 people in Israel. Some 600 children are reportedly trapped beneath rubble across Gaza in the wake of Israeli attacks.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak meanwhile landed in Israel on Thursday to meet Benjamin Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog in diplomatic efforts to mitigate the war's impact. His visit follows US President Joe Biden visiting the country on Wednesday following an overnight attack on a hospital in Gaza City which has killed an estimated 471 people.

Rishi Sunak landed in Tel Aviv on Thursday morning where he claimed the UK 'stands with Israel' (ABIR SULTAN/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)

Hamas initially blamed the strike on the Al-Ahli Arab hospital on Israel, although later footage emerged appearing to record Hamas militants agreeing the explosion was the result of an errant rocket fired by another Palestinian militant group, although they have denied responsibility.

The PM condemned the "horrific act of terrorism" by Hamas, claiming "the UK stands with Israel" on landing in Tel Aviv. He is expected to meet with other other countries in the region as well as Israeli leaders. Biden has since returned to the US after meeting with Netanyahu as well as frontline workers.

Sunak has met with Netanyahu as well as Israel's president Isaac Herzog (Simon Walker / No 10 Downing Street)

Netanyahu and Sunak addressed the press, as the Israeli leader echoed comments made by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz describing Hamas as "the new Nazis". Netanyahu said: "You fought the Nazis 80 years ago, resolutely, and the entire world supported your action."

He added: "President Biden called Hamas 'worse than ISIS', he's right too. Hamas are the new Nazis, they're the new ISIS, and we have to fight them together just as the civilised world united to fight the Nazis."

Gaza meanwhile remains under siege as Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) say they have hit hundreds of sites in Gaza over the past 24 hours, targeting "Hamas infrastructure". Aid workers have said the state is nearing total collapse, with Israel having blocked cross-border supplies of water, electricity, and fuel. Aid convoys sent by the UN World Food Programme have arrived at Egypt's border with Gaza and are expected to cross on Friday.

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