Deborah Mathias was at home with her son and husband when they were attacked by the Hamas group in Israel over the weekend. The terrorists blew up the front door of the house and the safe room.
An American woman was shot dead while protecting her son from attackers hidden under the body of his mother. 16-year-old Rotem Mathias was shot in the stomach but survived. Her husband Shlomi Mathias died.
“We were on the phone with Deborah when she was killed,” Ilan Troen, the boy’s grandfather, told CNN International. The man kept in touch with his bloodied and hidden grandson for more than 12 hours.
Deborah Mathias and her husband are among at least 11 US citizens killed in Israel.
According to Reuters, Joe Biden said that “for US citizens currently in Israel, the State Department is providing consular assistance as well as updating security alerts. Commercial flights and ground transportation options remain available for those wishing to leave.”
Gaza’s health ministry said on Tuesday that 830 Palestinians have been killed and 4,250 injured in Israeli attacks that have been taking place in the country since Saturday.
After the Hamas terrorist attack in Israel, the media reported 900 dead, at least 2,600 wounded and dozens of hostages.