Clashes in Middle East bring suffering to families

陈小将

Since the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians broke out, civilian casualties caused by the conflict have been a focus of the international community.

China's Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning responded to inquiries on Monday regarding the kidnapping of a woman during her attendance at a music festival in southern Israel.

China Daily reached out on Tuesday to Li Chonghong, also known as Liora Argamani, the girl's mother, to gain an account of the incident.

A short video circulated on China's social media Weibo showing a young woman, identified as Noa Argamani, being taken away from an outdoor music festival in southern Israel on a motorcycle. The video showed she "was held hostage by Hamas in Gaza".

On Monday, another video on Weibo showed Noa's father being interviewed by Israeli media. Visibly distressed, the Israeli man confirmed that the girl in the video was his daughter.

Li is from Wuhan, China. She came to Israel for a professional training program in the 1990s and has lived in Israel for over 30 years. She lives with her Israeli husband in the city of Beer Sheva in the southern part of the country.

Li, 61, said that her 25-year-old daughter Noa was born in Israel and her nationality is Israeli. Noa had visited China with her mother before.

"Oct 12 will be Noa's 26th birthday. We are trying to be optimistic and are all praying that Noa can return safely and celebrate her birthday with us," Shlomit Marciano, Noa's childhood friend, told China Daily.

Li said she has not heard from her daughter since their dinner together on Friday, and that there are no channels available for her to seek help.

The ongoing conflict has brought great suffering to people there, including Noa's family.

"The whole family is in great agony. We are praying together for Noa to come home safely," Li said.

Marciano said Noa went to the music festival together with friends.

"More than 160 people were taken away by Hamas alongside Noa and her boyfriend, including residents in the border area and those who attended the musical festival," Marciano said.

"We don't know what happened to Noa. We are worried and saddened, and we don't know what will happen. We are counting on getting any help possible," Marciano said.