Families Mourn Loss of Grandmother, Autistic Granddaughter

Israeli grandmother, autistic 12-year-old Potter fan's bodies found; 3 relatives still held hostage

The bodies of 12-year-old Noya Dan and her 80-year-old grandmother, Carmela, were found 12 days after they were taken by Hamas from their home in Kibbutz Nir Oz during an attack on October 7, according to ABC News.
In addition to Noya and Carmela, three other family members, including Noya's cousin and uncle, are still missing and believed to be held hostage by Hamas.
Noya, who had autism and was a huge Harry Potter fan, caught the attention of author J.K. Rowling, who expressed hope for her safe return on social media prior to the discovery of her and her grandmother's bodies.
The terrorist attack by Hamas caused significant devastation to the family's Kibbutz, with many homes, including that of Noya and Carmela, being burned down.
Despite the unimaginable tragedy, the family, as well as the wider Israeli community, continue to fight for the release of their remaining loved ones and other hostages, stressing their need to 'save lives'.
Noya's mother, Galit Dan, revealed her hope before the discovery of the bodies that Noya was being looked after by mothers in Gaza, highlighting her belief in human compassion amidst the atrocities.