Washington, D.C. -In a somber revelation, President Joe Biden announced on Monday that at least 11 U.S. citizens were counted among the casualties in the recent Hamas onslaught on Israel, as the Israeli death toll surged past 800.
As the grim reality unveiled itself, encompassing individuals from diverse origins beyond Israel’s borders, the BBC reported that a minimum of 10 British citizens were either deceased or missing. France confirmed the loss of two of its nationals, with additional accounts suggesting as many as nine French citizens were unaccounted for, deceased, or held hostage. Tragic reports have also surfaced indicating the loss of German citizens in the conflict.
In a heartfelt statement, President Biden expressed, “It’s heart-wrenching. These families have been torn asunder by unforgivable animosity and brutality. My sympathies are extended to every family touched by the dreadful events of the past few days. The suffering these families have borne, the magnitude of their grief, and the torment of those still awaiting information are beyond comprehension.”
President Biden assured that Washington is actively collaborating with Israel to ascertain the whereabouts of U.S. citizens who remain untraceable.
The BBC cited an official source revealing that over 10 British citizens were feared to be among the deceased or missing. One of them, Nathanel Young, aged 20, had been serving in the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) and was a former student of JFS, a Jewish school in North London.
The family of Dan Darlington, a photographer, harbored the belief that he had perished, as reported by The Mirror.
Furthermore, Jake Marlowe, a British national working as a security guard at the music festival targeted by Hamas militants, has been reported as missing.
Argentina’s consul general confirmed the loss of seven of their compatriots in the attack, with an additional 15 citizens unaccounted for.
The casualties encompassed diverse nationalities. For instance, Rodolfo Fabián Skariszewski, 56, hailing from Córdoba, Argentina, was tragically killed near the Gaza Strip while walking his dog. Abi Korin, a resident of the Holit kibbutz near Gaza, also fell victim to the violence, according to the country’s Jewish News Agency.
The international toll included two missing Brazilians.
Israel, with a substantial population of individuals who have “made aliyah” by choosing the nation as their home, witnessed a profound impact.
Tragically, 12 Thai laborers employed on farms near the Gaza border were among the deceased. An additional 11 Thais were reportedly abducted by Hamas militants, and eight others sustained injuries. Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, Thailand’s labor minister, disclosed that approximately 5,000 Thai laborers are employed in the conflict-affected area.
Recounting a harrowing escape, one Thai worker narrated, “I was running and crawling underneath a truck then the Hamas pulled me out and pointed the gun at me at point blank before firing to the ground.”
Nepal reported the loss of 10 of its citizens in the tragic events.
As of Monday, seven Filipinos remained unaccounted for, according to the Philippines foreign affairs department.
With over 50 countries represented by their citizens working within Israel, particularly in agriculture, cleaning, and caregiving sectors, the international community remains deeply concerned about the safety of its nationals.
As Israeli security forces labored to regain control of affected areas in the southern region, the death toll continued to climb. Tragic accounts emerged of individuals who had met their demise in their homes, vehicles, and on the streets.
Reut Karp shared a heart-wrenching account of the murder of her children’s father, Dvir Karp, in the Re’im kibbutz. She recounted how “terrorists entered Dvir’s house. He threw an axe at them” in a desperate bid to protect the children. However, he tragically lost his life in front of them, along with his girlfriend who attempted to intervene.
In another devastating incident, Mor Bayder’s grandmother met her demise in the Nir Oz kibbutz. A terrorist forcibly entered her home, taking her life and then callously shared images of the horror on her Facebook account, serving as the grim notification of her passing.
Hannah Ben-Artzi, aged 69, was fatally struck by a rocket in Kfar Aviv while attempting to open a public shelter for individuals without access to secure shelters within their homes.
Among the mourned were also emergency service personnel, police officers, and young members of the IDF. The IDF, a compulsory service for many young Israelis post-schooling, counted several casualties aged between 18 and 23.
Tragically, the toll included ten Bedouin Israelis, including six children.
