Foreign victims of deadly Hamas attack

By AFP   November 2, 2023 | 05:58 pm PT
Foreign victims of deadly Hamas attack
Images of missing Israeli are seen on a Shabbat table which is displayed in solidarity with the over 220 hostages abducted by Palestinian group Hamas in Berlin, Germany. Thousands of civilians, both Palestinians and Israelis, have died since October 7, 2023. Photo by AFP/Michele Tantussi
Large numbers of foreigners were killed, taken hostage or listed as missing after the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas launched a major attack on Israel on October 7.

More than 1,400 people, mainly civilians, were killed by Hamas militants during the attack launched from Gaza, Israeli authorities say.

The militants took 242 hostages, including Israelis, foreigners and dual nationals, according to Israel's army. Four women have since been released, and a soldier freed during a ground operation say the Israeli authorities.

On October 26, the armed wing of Hamas said "almost 50" hostages had been killed in Israeli bombing raids, and on Wednesday added that seven hostages, including three foreign passport holders, were killed in Israel's bombing of Gaza's largest refugee camp. Israeli authorities have not confirmed the figures.

In Gaza, 9,061 Palestinians have been killed in relentless retaliatory Israeli bombardments, mainly civilians including some 3,760 children, according to Gaza's health ministry on November 2.

The deaths of more than 200 foreigners in the Hamas attack, many with double nationality, have been confirmed by their respective countries, according to an AFP count.

Here is a breakdown of the deaths of foreigners in Israel, according to the latest available information.

France, Thailand, United States: heaviest tolls

Thirty-five French citizens were killed and nine being held hostage or listed as missing, according to the French foreign ministry. Among the hostages is a young woman, Mia Shem, who appeared in a video released on October 16 by Hamas.

Thirty-two Thai nationals were killed and 22 abducted, according to Bangkok's figures. Around 30,000 Thais work in Israel, mainly in farming.

Thirty-one Americans died, according to the White House, and 13 have been listed as missing. President Joe Biden has said that Americans are among the hostages. An American woman and her daughter were freed on October 20.

Russia, Ukraine

Twenty-one Ukrainians were killed, according to Kyiv authorities. One Ukrainian has been listed as missing.

Nineteen Russian-Israelis were killed and eight others are being held hostage by Hamas.

Victims from all corners of the world

At least 12 Britons died and five have been listed as missing, according to the British government. Among the victims are Yahel Sharabi, 13, killed with her mother Lianne and her elder sister Noiya, 16, according to their family. Their father Eli is still missing.

Ten Nepalis were killed according to the country's embassy in Tel Aviv. Contact has been lost with another.

Officials say fewer than 10 Germans died, while reporting a "double-digit" number of hostages. On October 30 Israel's foreign ministry confirmed the death of Shani Louk, a 23-year-old German-Israeli woman who had been captured at a music festival.

Nine Argentinians were killed and 21 listed as missing or taken hostage, including two brothers -- Iair and Eitan Horn, according to their father -- and a nine-month-old baby.

Six Canadians were also killed, plus one person with "deep connections to Canada", according to the government, and two are still missing.

Five Romanians, who also have Israeli nationality, including a soldier, were killed, and four have been abducted by Hamas, according to an update on Thursday from the Romanian foreign ministry.

Four Portuguese, also with dual nationality, were killed and four listed as missing.

Four Chinese people died and two are missing.

Four Filipinos died and two have also been listed as missing.

Four Austrians with dual Israeli nationality were killed and one is listed as missing.

Three Italians with dual nationality died, according to the government in Rome, including a couple in their sixties and a 29-year-old.

Three Belarusian citizens died, and one is listed as missing.

A Brazilian couple with dual Israeli nationality as well as another Brazilian woman died, while Brazilian-Israeli dual national Michel Nisenbaum, 59, was reported missing.

Three Peruvians, two South Africans and two Colombians were killed.

Chile, Turkey, Spain and Sri Lanka each announced the death of one of their nationals and the disappearance of another.

Cambodia, Australia, Honduras, Azerbaijan, Ireland and Switzerland each said one of their citizens died.

Other countries, including Hungary, Mexico, the Netherlands, Uruguay, Paraguay and Tanzania have nationals or dual nationals being held hostage or missing.

 
 
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