‘My whole life was frozen, that day changed us forever’: British-Israeli tells how her family was torn apart by Hamas after terrorists kidnapped her brother and mother and killed one of her siblings

The family of British-Israeli Ayelet Svalitzky, who was murdered, kidnapped and tortured by terrorists, has been torn apart by Hamas.

They then tormented her by sending her photos of her elderly mother and older brother on Facebook with the caption “Hamas”.

Later, 46-year-old Ayelet, who lives on a kibbutz in northern Israel, learned that the armed group had killed her older brother Roi (54).

It is a month today since Ayelet’s brother Nadav Popplewell (51) and her mother Channah Peri (79) were kidnapped on so-called “Black Saturday”.

Both require regular medication for diabetes, which makes Ayelet sick and worried about her health.

When she looks back at her wedding photos from twenty years ago, she tries to remember her family in happier times. Ayelet took MailOnline to the spot where the photo was taken, but now she was left alone to think about what she had lost – and what she could still lose.

Ayelet looks back at her wedding photo from twenty years ago and remembers better times

She sent pictures of her horrified mother Channah Peri, 79, along with a message that read: “Hamas.”

“The photo is from my wedding day; Twenty years ago it was the happiest day of my life. Now everyone is gone. My whole family. There is no one left. There is no one left of my family.’

She continued: “But now it’s just me. My father died 18 years ago. I have my husband’s side and my children’s side, but there is no one on my side anymore. There is no one else in the picture. ‘

The Popplewell family is originally from Wakefield in West Yorkshire, but has lived in Israel for many years.

Ayelet added: “I stood there surrounded by friends and family. Today was an empty wedding venue, just me and no one else. This is not the reality. How can this be my reality?

“On October 7, a month ago, my life was divided into two parts. The first night my whole family was missing, the next day they found my eldest brother’s body and I spent that time identifying his body.

“My DNA, his DNA, looking for x-rays, dental records, things you never deal with. And on the other hand, my mother and my other brother were kidnapped and I’m trying to find the voice to raise awareness.”

“You didn’t see the Red Cross, nothing.” My mother uses insulin every day and my brother also has diabetes. There is no news, no evidence of life, we do not know in what condition they are being held. Nothing. We have expectations from the Red Cross, it is the minimum requirement that they be seen, so much is unknown, it is disgusting, constantly worrying, everyday actions are riddled with guilt.”

The Popplewell brothers were among around 20 Britons, including children, who died or were captured after the Hamas attack.

It is a month today since Ayelet’s (photo) brother Nadav Popplewell (51) and their mother Channah Peri (79) were kidnapped on so-called ‘Black Saturday’.

Their homes on Kibbutz Nirim, a kilometer from Gaza, were stormed by armed madmen.

They stormed into Ms Svatitzky’s mother’s house and arrested Nadav Popplewell (51), who lives next door.

They then took the photos and brutally sent them to contacts on the old lady’s phone, including Ms Svatitzky’s 13-year-old daughter.

Ayelet added: “When I go to sleep, does my mother have a bed?” When I eat, do they get something to eat? Are they fed?’

“I had to temporarily bury my brother alone in my kibbutz in the north, I had to spend the Jewish week of mourning alone and without my family.” I even felt guilty sitting in a chair while my poor mother was probably doing laundry in a tunnel.

“I couldn’t even properly grieve for my brother because all I could think was: ‘You just wasted an hour, you could have used that time to fight for your mother and brother.’

“I did not ask about his cause of death. I just didn’t want to know because it would have affected my concentration and my mission is to fight for my mother and my other brother. ‘

The Popplewell family is originally from Wakefield in West Yorkshire, but has lived in Israel for many years. In the photo: Ayelet Svalitzky

“I tell myself I’m doing what I can, but it’s such helplessness, it’s out of control.” The fact that they are not healthy people and that the Red Cross didn’t even see them… where the hell is the Red Cross? Where is the UN? Where is everyone?’

In the morning, Ayelet’s husband informed her of the news that something was happening on the border with Gaza, where she grew up. She immediately called her mother and told her to go to the safe room and lock herself in. Channah said there was no lock, “then I heard men with Arabic accents talking to her in English.”

“Then I hung up and realized the intruders had caught them, so I called my brother Nadav, who lives next door, and told him to lock himself in the safe and not let anyone in because I don’t know what. This has happened to mothers before, but I didn’t tell him because I didn’t want him to panic.

“The next moment I heard the same voices talking to him, then I hung up and called everyone I know in the kibbutz – we have a volunteer security group, they were already fighting.”

A few minutes later, Channah’s phone sent Ayelet two photos showing her mother in her nightgown and her brother barefoot in their living room. Underneath, in English, Hamas said: “My mother still has her nightgown on.” They then uploaded a photo on their Facebook story because she is 79 years old and doesn’t know how to do it. These were photos taken by third parties, and one photo shows a terrorist standing in the corner with a Kalashnikov. ‘

“I thought they were dead, it was about 8:15. Around noon, rumors of hostages began to circulate, so I assumed they had been dead for four hours. The next day the army confirmed it. I don’t know if it’s better to be dead or kidnapped. What is the better option?

“My whole life was frozen, that day we changed forever.” I can’t believe it’s been a month and there is no sign of life from them. Where is the Red Cross?’