Harry Potter-loving autistic Israeli girl Noya Dan, 12, at centre of JK Rowling’s plea is found dead after Hamas murder
HARRY-Potter fan Noya Dan,12, was tragically found dead after she was reportedly killed in front of her horrified grandma.
JK Rowling had previously issued a plea to rescue them after the autistic girl and her 80-year-old nan were thought to be among those held hostage in Gaza following the Hamas massacre on October 7.
But the Dan family confirmed the devastating news on a Facebook post saying that the bodies of Noya and Carmela had been identified.
Their deaths were also confirmed by the Israeli minister of foreign affairs.
Israel posted on X: “We are devastated to announce that Noya and her grandmother Carmela’s bodies were discovered yesterday.
“Thank you to all of you who shared her story to help us bring her home. Our hearts are broken.”
The girl’s heartbroken mum previously told The Sun how she listened helplessly as the terror group kidnapped her young daughter and elderly mother.
Galit Dan, 53, was five miles away when terrified Noya whispered in her last message: “Help me.”
As Noya and Carmela were missing, Galit held out hope they would be among the 150-plus hostages taken to Gaza.
The Harry Potter author slammed the Hamas attacks especially the kidnapping of children following news of Noya’s disappearance.
Rowling shared a photo of the 12-year-old wearing a Harry Potter costume on X and wrote in the caption: “Kidnapping children is despicable and wholly unjustifiable.
“For obvious reasons, this picture has hit home with me. May Noya and all hostages taken by Hamas be returned soon, safely, to their families.”
The young girl can be seen smiling as she’s wearing clothes the iconic Gryffindor tie and clutching a Hebrew copy of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince as well as a wizard wand.
Israel had previously shared Noya’s photo on X, hoping to “bring her home.”
The post read: “This beautiful 12-year-old girl with autism was kidnapped from her home by Hamas terrorists and was taken to Gaza. Noya is sensitive, kind, funny and a massive Harry Potter fan.”
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