PALS of a Brit missing in Israel after the Hamas terror onslaught fear he may have sacrificed his life to save others, saying “he wouldn’t run.”
Jake Marlowe, 26, was working as a security guard at a desert rave when militants launched a devastating rocket attack followed by a ground assault.
Hamas forces initially launched their attack on the festival by airTikTok
Jake Marlowe was working as a security guard at the festival when he went missingNot known, clear with picture desk
FacebookNathanel Young was serving as a corporal in the IDF[/caption]
Festival goers fled for their lives as Hamas terrorists started firingTwitter
Another Brit, photographer Dan Darlington, who was visiting from his home in Berlin, Germany, is also missing, according to his father David, as reported by the BBC.
Shocking pictures and video footage show hundreds of terrified Israelis fleeing for their lives as gunmen fired indiscriminately into the crowds at the festival in Israel near the Gaza border.
Israeli rescue service Zaka says at least 260 bodies have been recovered from the site although the death toll is expected to rise as paramedic teams continue to work in the area.
But friends of Arsenal fan Jake said his first instinct would have been to make sure everyone else was safe before he thought of himself.
Lifelong pal Daniel Aboudy, 26, said: “He is tough and heroic but caring and protective as well.
“He will always do everything he can to help everyone.”
And trainee barrister Lea Sztemberg, 24, added: “His instinct would be to help those around him, not to run.”
Family and friends were last night waiting by phones desperate for good news as it emerged that a British soldier serving in the Israeli Defence Force (IDF) was among as many as 700 killed in Friday night’s surprise attack.
Nathanel Young, 20, from London, was serving as a corporal in the IDF.
His family said on Facebook: “We’re heartbroken to share that our little brother was tragically killed on the Gaza Border yesterday.”
Some 2,300 were injured by Hamas terrorists who also kidnapped more than 100 people, including many at the dance event where Jake was working.
He grew up in Potters Bar, North London and attended JFS, the North London comprehensive which was once the biggest Jewish school in the world.
After leaving school he worked as a musician, shop manager and carpenter.
The talented drummer and guitarist played in a number of hardcore metal bands before moving to Israel two years ago to explore his Jewish heritage.
He lives in Ma’a lot, north Israel, and by day works as a carpenter on building sites.
But he also has a second part-time job as a security guard at festivals and gigs.
On Friday night he was working at Nature Festival, a trance music event near Kibbutz Re’im in the western Negev desert which started at 11pm.
The Hamas attack started shortly before dawn on Saturday when the all-night event had been going for a few hours.
A rocket attack was followed by a pincer ground assault as militants attacked the crowds from either side.
A report later said that one person was killed and dozens injured. But the final casualty figures are expected to be much higher, with many more being abducted and taken to Gaza.
Jake had videoed the rockets flying over on his phone and then called his mother Lisa at her home in London to tell her.
He texted her an hour later to say was okay and would keep her updated – and signed off: “I love you.”
His family has not heard from him since.
It comes as…
Hamas terrorists launched an all-out attack on Israel from land, air and sea with 5,000 rockets firedUp to 700 Israelis are confirmed dead as thousands more have been taken to hospitalThe Palestinian Ministry of Health said that 378 people had died in the violence that followed the surprise Hamas attack on Israel. The vast majority, 370, were in the Gaza Strip, where 2,200 were also wounded.Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement that Gaza will be “reduced to rubble“Reports emerged of kidnapped Israeli soldiers being paraded on military vehiclesBritish citizen Jake Marlowe has been reported missing after attending a music festival in southern IsraelNetanyahu mobilised the country’s army reserves following his declaration of warThe attack has been dubbed “Israel’s 9/11” after an “embarrassing intelligence failure”
Distraught Lisa, now waiting at home for news with Jake’s dad Michael and sister Natasha, said: “He called me at 4.30am to say all these rockets were flying over.
“Then, at about 5.30am, he texted to say, ‘signal very bad, everything OK, will keep you updated I promise you,’ and that he loves me.
“I don’t know what we’re supposed to be doing. I’ve got people in Israel phoning the home guard command, everyone’s just trying to help as much as they can.
“I’ve left him lots of WhatsApp messages but I’ve not been able to leave him a [voice] message… I can’t bear to listen to the phone just ringing and not being answered.”
Jake had been dating speech therapy student Shira Desta, 24, for six months.
She told The Sun from her home in Israel: “Jake has the biggest heart and is always ready to help everyone and put people before him.
“He’s so gentle and patient. A lot of people care about him and are waiting for an update, we all hope they find him safe and sound.”
Best pal Daniel, who first met Jake in nursery and went all through school with him, added: “The last we have heard is that he was escorting people and trying to get people away.
“He was doing everything he could in that situation to help out.
“There is lots of footage online of people and we have been scouring that to see if we can recognise him but we haven’t been able to.
“Jake is a massive Arsenal fan, he has loved Arsenal all his life, and he has huge fascination for music.
“He is a funny, confident, stronghearted and always put others before himself.
“He has a very strong family who love him so much. They are numb right now.
“I visited him in July. It was easily the happiest I have ever seen him in his entire life.”
Another friend Lea, training to be a barrister in Paris, revealed that Jake counts Muslims and Christians among his friends and was desperate for peace in the Middle East.
She said: “He really wants peace. He is tolerant towards other religions.
“He wants a peaceful world where everyone could live together.
“When this happened, Jake’s first instinct would be not be to run away to save his own life.
“His instinct would but to think of others and to help others. He is extremely protective.”
Meanwhile, heartbroken relatives paid tribute to Brit Nathanel Young, 20, from London, who was killed while serving with the IDF near the Gaza border.
A former pupil at JFS – the same school that Jake attended – he had been living in Tel Aviv and was a member of the army’s 13th Battalion.
His sister Gaby Shalev paid tribute to the hip hop fan and said: “Nathanel was full of life and the life of the party – he carried the nickname DJ on base.
“He loved his family and friends and was loved by everyone. He loved music and was a talented DJ. Always willing to go to any lengths for his loved ones. An amazing uncle and brother. He was so happy in Israel.”
His brother Eliot added: “Nathanel always had strong Jewish pride. From a young age he has always wanted to play an important role in defending his country, it’s something he talked about a lot.
“I remember when he was around 10 and he called, so upset at the attacks on Israel that were happening at that time.
“Nathanel was also a bubbly guy who my two little daughters loved playing with and were always so excited to visit.
“When Nathanel could have taken his days off to sleep and re-energise, he instead found out where we were, which wasn’t always so close to him, and came to join us.”
Reports say at least 260 bodies have been recovered from the music festivalTwitter
TWITTERHundreds fled in terror as gunfire rang out[/caption] Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
