A girl from New York who studies in Israel talks about the horrors of the Hamas attack

The terrible events that are developing in Israel have become the subject of world media attention due to rocket attacks from the Hamas organization. The attacks also spread to Tel Aviv, where a student from New York was studying and participating in a community charity program. The girl and her roommates were forced to hide in a bomb shelter, waiting for the next salvo of rockets, ABC7NY reported.

The 18-year-old has been in Israel since August, doing community work with young people through the Aardvark Israel program. Her experience went from educational to frightening when Hamas rocket fire hit four cities, including Tel Aviv, where she was staying. The surprise attack occurred early Sunday, during the main Jewish holiday.

Shia Kramer Coyne was hiding in Tel Aviv with her roommates, anxiously waiting to be taken back to the bomb shelter. “I thought I was safe in Tel Aviv, where I am, but now I feel extremely unsafe,” Shea said.

At home in Kips Bay, her panic-stricken mother tries to keep in touch, anxiously awaiting the next phone call. “Nothing prepares you for waking up and finding out that your child is in a bomb shelter and lying there helpless and there is nothing I can do, but what’s even worse is that at the moment the Israelis can’t do anything – specifically for her. They are doing everything they can to save the country,” says Hillary Kramer Coyne.

On the subject: ‘New York with Israel’: an action in support of Jews will take place on October 10

Public reaction

As the conflict continues, the study abroad program tells parents it is in contact with Masa’s security detail at the Jewish Agency and is closely monitoring the situation. All Shea can do is hope and pray. “We all really – between our apartments – talk to each other and hold on to each other. Everyone has a different connection to Israel,” Shea adds.

“We are in constant contact with the White House, the embassy, ​​the State Department to ensure that New Yorkers who traveled there to be with family on this beautiful holiday, a holy day, return home safely,” said the New York governor, Katie Hochul.

Airlines have canceled more than 80 flights to and from Tel Aviv. Meanwhile, Westchester County Executive George Latimer said a delegation of local police chiefs is currently in Israel for training on combating anti-Semitism.