Missing Brit’s loving message to mum before he went missing near Gaza

A London-born Jewish man missing in action near Gaza since Saturday morning signed off his last message to his mum telling her that he loved her.

Jake Marlowe, 26, an ex-JFS pupil, was providing security at a party in the desert near Kibbutz Re’im when the attack from Gaza unfolded. He has not been heard from since 5.30am.

“He was doing security at this rave yesterday and called me at 4.30am to say all these rockets were flying over,” said his mother, Lisa, speaking to Jewish News.

“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”.

She continued: “I don’t know what we’re supposed to be doing. I’ve got people in Israel phoning the home guard command, others talking to others, everyone’s just trying to help as much as they can.”

Jake, formerly of the BBYO youth movement who went on Israel Tour in 2013, lives in Ma’alot in north Israel and made aliyah two years ago.

“His girlfriend’s friends have put something online about him being missing,” said Lisa. “Someone else who’s working in the police asked for Jake’s ID card. Everyone’s been so kind.”

Lisa’s cousin has been checking hospital lists, while Liran, the girlfriend of Jake’s friend Shlomi – who was also providing security at the party, and who is also missing in action – has been posting online, to say that they are not in contact.

According to reports, Hamas gunmen attacked the party from two sides, leading to several fatalities, as revellers fled on-foot. Re’im is just over three miles from the Gaza border.

Lisa said Jake’s phone was on but that he was not online. “It’s ringing, but I don’t think it’s actually ringing. Well, I’m hoping that it’s not ringing and that he’s just not able to pick it up. He’s not been online for hours.

“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.”

The IDF’s Gaza Division is headquartered at an army base near Kibbutz Re’im that was overrun by Hamas militants before being retaken later in the day. It was one of three military installations breached in the unprecedented attack.