How Messi saved an old lady from being abducted to Gaza

When terrorists entered the home of 90-year old Esther Konio during the October 7 massacre, they wanted to take her hostage but after she told them she came from the same place soccer star Lionel Messi did, they left her alone
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Esther Konio
( Fuente Latina)


Esther Konio from Nir Oz was able at the age of 90, to chase Hamas terrorists away and avoid being taken hostage during the October 7 massacre. She did with the help of soccer great, Lionel Messi. Now she hopes her two grandsons would also be freed from their captivity in Gaza.
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Konio recounted the events of that day in an Argentinian documentary film produced by Fuente Latina. When terrorists invaded her community on that fateful day, she was alone. They entered her home, masked and armed, and asked where her family was. I have no family," she told them. "I am alone. You can look around."
4 View gallery
אסתר קוניו ברחה משבי חמאס בעזרת שיחה על ליונל מסי
אסתר קוניו ברחה משבי חמאס בעזרת שיחה על ליונל מסי
Esther Konio, Lionel Messi
(Photo: Fuente Latina, Reuters)
The terrorist then told her she must go with them and that the entire community would be burned to the ground but Konio said she was unable to understand what they were saying. I speak Argentinian, Spanish," she said.
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אסתר קוניו ברחה משבי חמאס בעזרת שיחה על ליונל מסי
אסתר קוניו ברחה משבי חמאס בעזרת שיחה על ליונל מסי
Esther Konio
(Photo: Fuente Latina)
"So he says to me, What is Argentina? So I tell him, Do you watch soccer? So he tells me yes I like soccer, So I say to him: I am from where Messi is from. Then he replied, Messi! I like Messi."
The terrorist put his arm around Kunio and placed is gun in her hands and took a picture of them both, before he and his cohort left.
4 View gallery
אסתר קוניו ברחה משבי חמאס בעזרת שיחה על ליונל מסי
אסתר קוניו ברחה משבי חמאס בעזרת שיחה על ליונל מסי
Konio and a Hamas terrorist, from the documentary film
(צילום: Fuente Latina)
David and Ariel Konio were abducted to Gaza on that day. David was taken with his wife Sharon and his two daughters who were released in November in the hostage deal.
4 View gallery
סילביה קוניו אמא של דוד ואריאל קוניו שחטופים בעזה מציינים 100 ימי בשבי
סילביה קוניו אמא של דוד ואריאל קוניו שחטופים בעזה מציינים 100 ימי בשבי
Silvia Konio holding the photos of her two sons who are held hostage by Hamas in Gaza
(Photo: Gadi Kabalo)
Silvia Konio, David and Ariel's mother told Ynet in January that her youngest, Ariel was a bit spoiled. The girls in the Kibbutz called him Pepito because that was how she had always called him. "He is such a good boy and also tall and handsome. I just hope he does not return too thin," she said at the time. He and David have been held hostage for 153 days and counting.
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