Israeli woman with Laois roots confirmed dead after Hammas attack

Kim Damti, the young Israeli / Irish woman with Laois roots caught up in a Hammas attack, has been confirmed dead.

Her familiy in Laois has issued a statement following the tragic news from Israel where she had been unnaccounted for since last Saturday when Hammas attacked a music festival. 

"It is with heartfelt sorrow we announce the death of our beloved niece Kim Damti.

"Her body was found today (October 11). We would like to thank all those who expressed love and support for us over the past five days. We respectfully request the media to allow our family to grieve in private," said the statement issued by her aunt Pat Cooper.

Kim was attending a dance music festival when the terrorists attacked. 

Kim’s most recent visit to Ireland was just this summer when she and her mother joined the family to celebrate the wedding of her cousin Alan.

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin paid tribute to the young woman who held Irish citizenship.

"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. 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.

"For anyone to lose a child is devastating. To lose a child in such circumstances is indescribable," he said.

Israel's rescue service Zaka said at the weekend it removed about 260 bodies from the festival, and that number was expected to rise.