Galit Carbone named as first Australian victim in brutal Israel conflict

A grandmother living peacefully near the Gaza border is the first known Australian victim “murdered in cold blood” in the brutal conflict.

Galit Carbone was born and raised in Sydney before settling in Israel. Picture: Supplied

Galit Carbone never stood a chance when terror came to her quiet village in Southern Israel.

The 66-year-old Australian-born grandmother’s lifeless body was found just metres from the door of her home in the Be-Eri kibbutz, just 5km from the Gaza border, where she had previously worked as a librarian and raised her three children.

Heavily armed Palestinian militants had stormed the kibbutz, home to 1200 residents, setting houses on fire in order to smoke families out of their safe rooms before executing them.

Galit – born and bred in Sydney and the first known Australian victim of the brutal conflict – was murdered “in cold blood”.

Loved ones – who live in both Australia and Israel – spent three days desperately praying she would be found alive after dozens of Hamas terrorists massacred her village in the early hours of Saturday.

Galit Carbone (circled) was a mother of three and grandmother of two. Picture: Supplied

But their worst nightmare was confirmed in the early hours on Tuesday when Galit’s body was identified among 108 victims, many of whom were her neighbours, friends and colleagues.

Her cousin Julian Cappe and his wife Lisa Cappe, who live in Rose Bay, told the Herald Sun the family in Israel were in “a state of numb shock” as they tried to put the pieces together of her horrifying final moments.

“Over the last few days they’ve just gone through all the ranges of emotion, from hearing what happened to thinking that she’s been a prisoner to hearing confirmation that she was killed,” he said.

“We’re not sure if she was killed in her home or dragged out and killed, but her body was not found in her house. She may have been dragged around.”

Children and elderly men and women were dragged from their living rooms and kitchens before they were slaughtered on the street.

Another 40 people were taken hostage after they were trapped in the communal dining room.

Mr Cappe said the family’s grief had been magnified by the disturbing nature her death.

“The idea that terrorists could walk into such a peaceful place and find an elderly, a 66 year old lady, and other elderly people and gun them down in cold blood. It’s just devastating to feel that such a thing could happen,” he said.

Galit Carbone’s family’s grief has been magnified by the disturbing nature of her death. Picture: Supplied

Gilat’s family, who live in villages nearby, hid in bomb shelters as Hamas militants roamed the streets.

Hours later, in twist of cruel hope, they heard that dozens of hostages from their mother’s kibbutz had been rescued by Israeli soldiers.

They prayed their mother was among them.

In an audio message sent to the Cappe’s on Monday, before the devastating news, Gilat’s brother Geoffrey said the family were living “a nightmare”.

Galit Carbone, 66, with her daughter Maia (middle) and Nicole (right) on Nicole’s wedding day. Picture: Supplied

“Many, many friends and colleagues have been murdered and abducted to Gaza,” he said.

Ms Carbone’s daughter, in a text message, said she was “waiting, hoping and praying she will return soon and in good health”.

But as the Israeli Defence Force took back control of the community more than 48 hours later, Galit’s body was discovered among a sea of others lying in the dirt and grass outside.

She was remembered by her cousin as “a warm presence” and “a very much loved mum, grandma, sister and cousin”.

“We used to love spending time with her when we were in Israel,” he said.

“She was planning on visiting Australia soon. She’s been trying to come out for the last couple of years.”

Jewish community leaders said the news of Galit’s death had brought new pain to the grieving Australian diaspora.

Zionist Federation of Australia president Jeremy Leibler said: “News that Australian Galit Carbone, a friend of many in the Australian Jewish community, was killed only adds to the trauma the community is currently facing.

“With so many Jewish Australians having family and friends in Israel, the news of murders, those missing, kidnapped or injured is raw and personal.”

Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-CEO Alex Ryvchin said confirmation of Galit’s death “brings us new pain and sorrow”.

“This is the latest chapter in an unfolding horror and coincides with the discovery of 40 murdered babies, some decapitated in a village overrun by Hamas,” he said.

“This mass atrocity has transcended Israel’s borders and devastated communities and nations throughout the world.

“We mourn with the Carbone family at this terrible time and stand with the people of Israel and all the nations affected by this mass atrocity.”

Originally published as Galit Carbone named as first Australian victim in brutal Israel conflict