LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: On Sunday, November 5, the official X (formerly Twitter) account of the State of Israel called on Taylor Swift to help find Roni Eshel, a 19-year-old Israeli "Swiftie" who had been missing since October 7 amid the Israel-Palestine conflict.
Eshel is reportedly an Israel Defense Forces soldier and was stationed at a base near the Gaza border, when she went missing, as per The Times of Israel.
The post read, "Putting this message out into the universe with the hope that it reaches @taylorswift13. Roni (19) Eshel who is a huge Swiftie has been missing since the October 7th Massacre. It would mean the world to Roni's family if Taylor would use her platform to call for Roni's return."
"Israeli Swifties are wearing bracelets with Roni's name to Era tour screenings in Israel, to raise awareness and help bring Roni home. @taylorswift13, please please use your platform with millions of followers to help us find Roni and bring her home," stated a subsequent post.
The plea comes as people from both sides have repeatedly urged Swift to address the conflict and speak up about the situation, owing to her massive platform.
Roni Eshel's family has been unaware of her whereabouts since the Israel-Hamas war started
As per The Times of Israel, Roni Eshel's mother reportedly received a text from her at 9.27 am on October 7, which said she was okay and in the command room of the base near Gaza, a safe and secure space.
However, it was the last time the family heard from the teenager, who had been working in the army for a year and two months.
At the time she went missing, Eshel was posted at one of the communication lookouts at an army base near Kibbutz Nahal Oz as part of the team of soldiers. They typically watched the cameras placed on a high-tech barrier, breached by Hamas on October 7.
"Their eyes are on the fence all the time," said Eshel’s uncle, Guy Malki, to the outlet, adding, "She really liked her job in the army."
He shared, "She felt a sense of mission in what she did, defending the land. She’s super responsible."
Eshel is the eldest sibling and had two younger brothers whom she protected or got cross with when necessary, as per Malki.
She also loves life, "enjoying what all kids love to do, music and American culture and Taylor Swift and Maroon 5." Eshel even got to enjoy a concert by Maroon 5 when they were visiting Tel Aviv in 2022.
Her base was reportedly invaded two hours before she texted her mother. "Because she was in the command room, it must have taken time to reach her," mentioned Malki.
He further added that there was a staff of 27 soldiers on the lookout team, and some would have been in the command room with Eshel.
Malki noted that he did see some videos of those who were killed at the base and heard reports about some soldiers who ran away but confessed, "We don’t know if she’s dead or alive, or if they took her dead body."
Eshel’s father told The Times of Israel that the IDF has told them she is considered missing but said that he believes she has been kidnapped.
"We believe she’s alive and in the hands of Hamas," alleged her father, adding, "Hamas are not freedom fighters, they’re not soldiers. They’re terrorists who murdered babies and families and kidnapped little kids to Gaza and Holocaust survivors. They want to kill us because we’re Jews. The world has to know that."
Israel previously reached out to Taylor Swift last month
Prior to tagging her in the post about Roni Eshel, Israel reached out Swift on social media last month.
The State of Israel tagged the pop star in an Instagram post mentioning how one of her former bodyguards from the 'Eras Tour' returned to Israel to join the IDF.
"Hey @taylorswift, we promise you’ll never find another like him?," read the post and it added, "Taylor Swift’s #ErasTour body guard returned home to fight for his country."
Several Swifties, who have been heartbroken by the deaths of thousands of civilians in Gaza, have also tried to reach out to the pop star, using the hashtag "#SwiftiesForPalestine" so that their favorite artist speaks on the situation.
According to the Daily Beast, some fans have even called for a boycott of the upcoming Swift-themed episode of ABC’s 'Dancing With the Stars' until the pop star breaks her silence on the situation.
However, despite numerous calls for her comment, Swift has remained silent on the Israel-Palestine conflict.
