EXCLUSIVE: ‘I will never see my children grow up’: British father’s anguish as he learns his girl, 12, was murdered by Hamas thugs in Israeli Kibbutz massacre six weeks ago – in atrocity that also killed her twin brother

Gavin Heller, 50, from north London has expressed devastation over the news
His daughter Liel, 12, was murdered with her twin brother Yannai, by Hamas
Liel was identified from fragments found at Kibbutz Be’eri following the attack

A British father of twins has told The Mail on Sunday of his anguish and devastation after just learning the remains of his daughter Liel 12, have been found at Kibbutz Be’eri six weeks after Hamas terrorists torched the house killing her twin brother Yannai.

Gavin Heller, 50 a salesman from North London says every day is a living nightmare.

‘I don’t even have a body to bury, they only found fragments.’

‘The only reason my children died is because they are Jewish, along with babies and children and innocents.

‘I will never see my children grow up, or see them have children. It is an ongoing nightmare.

The father of Liel Hetzroni-Heller, 12, pictured, has been left devastated after his daughter was identified by DNA fragments found following the Hamas attack on Kibbutz Be’eri on October 7

Liel, pictured when she was younger, was killed after Hamas terrorists set fire to her home

Liel’s twin brother, Yannai Hetrzoni-Heller, also died in the bloody attack on Kibbutz Be’eri

‘On October 7 my sister called me and told me to put the news on. When I realised Hamas terrorists had massacred their way into Israel my first thoughts were of the kids.

‘But I couldn’t reach anyone by phone for days. I eventually called the Foreign office and I got a visit from the counter terrorism police in London.

‘For weeks I didn’t know where the kids were, not knowing if they were kidnapped by Hamas, or injured.

‘I wasn’t there to protect them, it killed me. Lots of conflicting news and I was in the unknown.

‘The situation was so messy I had no idea what had happened and it was the worst worry and indescribable what’s going through your mind.’

‘ Unfortunately three weeks later counter-terrorism came to my door and told me Yannai had been identified by his DNA, along with his grandfather Avi Hetzroni.

‘Words can’t describe how it feels to have your son perished in this massacre. I fell to my knees.’

Aftermath: IDF soldiers search the remains of Kibbutz Be’eri in the days following the October 7 attack, in which Hamas murdered at least 130 people

‘I imagine they were shot and Hamas burned the house down’: Gavin Heller has spoken of his devastation at discovering his children died in the attack. Pictured: A destroyed home in Kibbutz Be’eri

Gavin Heller had to endure an agonising six-week wait to discover the fate of his children. Pictured: The remnant of the fatal attack on Kibbut Be’eri

Gavin had an agonising six-week wait until Liel’s fate was known.

‘The family in Israel buried Yannai and his aunt Aylus, but because at this point Liel wasn’t found they buried some of her toys.

‘Then last Saturday after her burial, Liel was identified by her DNA. There were reports that they found fragments of her body, that was all that was left.

‘It wasn’t just a dagger in the heart that she had died but to know there is nothing left of her is hugely tragic.’

Gavin says the children’s mother Shira was unable to walk and talk after falling ill after the twins birth, with Gavin having to care for her.

Liel and Yannai were brought up in the loving Kibbutz community with Shira’s aunt Aylus and grandfather Avia, whose bodies were also identified, helping to raise the children from birth.

‘I eventually had to move to London to provide for them, but I was still close to the kids and visited when I could.’

‘My parents are devastated, we all are. All I wanted was to be as good a father as I could be, I tried to do the best I could. Circumstances led me to living away from them, but I did the best I could.

‘No-one knows how they passed away. I can imagine though, they were held hostage with 12 people in another house. I imagine they were shot and Hamas burned the house down.

‘I still don’t know why there was nothing left of Liel, I don’t know and I don’t want to think about it.

‘It feels surreal, I wake up at night and then it dawns on me …I think it’s a form of trying to accept that something like this has happened.’

‘Liel was such a lovely little girl, she was creative, she loved makeup and painting, like any other 12-year-old.

‘Yanni loved all sports, especially on the Kibbutz. He was learning English and it was wonderful we could speak in English. He was more of an introvert than Liel.

‘The last conversation I had with Liel was her little voice note, she left me a message that she wanted some perfume as I was due to see them last October.

‘Her last recording is on whats app.

‘So much has happened I haven’t even grieved yet. I plan to go to Israel soon.

‘We will be holding memorials for Liel this week in England, while Yannai had one at my parents’ house.

‘I really hope in my heart that nothing like this ever happens ever again. Never again, is now.’

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