‘My heart aches’: Brisbane woman in Israel tells of horror scenes

A Brisbane woman in Israel has detailed the unfathomable carnage unfolding in the country, saying she knows of several people who are missing and has been sent photos and footage of brutal murders and torture.

A Brisbane woman currently in Israel has detailed the unfathomable carnage unfolding in the country, saying she personally knows of at least half a dozen people who are unaccounted for.

Brisbane woman Karin, who has asked for her last name and details not to be published, said she has been in “absolute shock” since Islamic fundamentalist group Hamas launched a violent assault on Israel as celebrations of the Jewish holiday Simchat Torah wound down on Saturday night.

A man walks past an Israeli police station in Sderot after it was damaged during battles to dislodge Hamas militants who were stationed inside. (Photo by RONALDO SCHEMIDT / AFP)

“This is something that has never happened. We’ve been getting photos and videos of people being murdered, brutally murdered, taken into the Gaza strip… and like women, children, old people being brutally tortured,” she said.

“My heart just aches so much, it’s been a pretty difficult morning here. I personally didn’t sleep last night… I know probably half a dozen people that can’t be reached.

“We just don’t know what’s happening. It’s all happening.”

Brisbane woman Karin is in Israel.

President of the Queensland Jewish Board of Deputies Jason Steinberg spoke to Karin on Sunday night and with her permission has shared a recording of their conversation.

He said there were no Queenslanders from the state’s Jewish community who were unaccounted for in Israel at this stage.

Protesters burn the national flags of US and Israel during an anti-Israel demonstration in Karachi on October 8. (Photo by Asif HASSAN / AFP)

But he said it was “inevitable” that the death toll of the bloody conflict would climb and Queensland’s Jewish community had many loved ones living in Israel.

“One of the key things Queenslanders can do is do what many people have been doing, and expressing their horror and also solidarity with the Jewish people and Israel,” he said.

“Because that’s really important at this time, particularly in recovering from the scale of terrorist attack, which has been launched on the Jewish people in Israel. It’s unprecedented.”

Mr Steinberg said it was a very worrying time for the Queensland Jewish community.