Between 150 and 200 people are thought to be hostages of Hamas after its surprise terrorist attack in Israel on Saturday. At least two dozen of them have foreign nationalities: Thailand reported on Wednesday that 14 nationals were kidnapped. Meanwhile, Hamas threatened to kill hostages for Israeli bombings.
(developing story)
On October 7, the Islamist Palestinian group Hamas stormed Israel by surprise in terrorist attacks that killed at least 750 people, including more than 260 at a music festival near the Gaza Strip.
Hamas also abducted a number of civilians that could vary between 150 and 200 people, according to Israel.
Israel officially declared war against Hamas and bombed Gaza, killing more than 500 people, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health on Monday, along with four “enemy prisoners” with their captors, according to a spokesperson of the Al-Qassam brigades, the Hamas military wing, on Telegram.
While much is still unknown about the hostage situation, at least a dozen of them are thought to be foreigners.
From various reports, Newsendip recounted that at least 21 foreign nationals, including dual-citizens, were considered hostages by Hamas, at least 73 were still missing and 68 were reported dead from the attacks as of October 11. A review country by country of what is known and not known so far:
Argentina
The ministry of foreign affairs on Tuesday reported that seven nationals died during the attacks and are still trying to get in touch with 15 people.
Austria
3 Austrian-Israeli dual nationals are assumed to be missing and could be abducted, stated Austria’s Foreign Ministry.
Brazil
A group of three Brazilians were reported missing, but the father of one reportedly recognized his son’s dead body. The family of a second person reported the death of the 24-year-old Brazilian student who lived in Israel for ten years. She had dual nationality.
Eight have been wounded, Brazil said on Sunday.
They all attended the music festival.
Cambodia
A Cambodian student was killed on October 7th as fighting broke out. The Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation released a statement, “The government is deeply saddened by the loss of our citizen and would like to share condolences with the family.”
Canada
According to Irwin Cotler, a former ministry of justice of Canada, two Canadian-Israeli women were abducted by Hamas. Vivian Silver, is a peace activist from Winnipeg, and Adi Vital Kaploun has Ottawa roots. Mr. Cotler tweeted that Adi Vital Kaploun was abducted with her two children, four years and six months old, but the children were rescued.
According to Global Affairs Canada, there are 1,419 registered Canadians in Israel and 492 in the Palestinian territories of the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
Chile
Chile confirmed the death of a person of Chilean nationality in the attacks.
The government also shared the news about the deaths of three people with Chilean descents, but who didn’t have Chilean citizenship.
France
On Wednesday, France reported that eleven people died during the attacks, and on Thursday said that four children were among the 17 people missing.
On Tuesday night, France reported that so far a total of eight French people died during the attacks. Moreover, the country was without news of 20 French citizens. Their situation is “very worrying, and some of them have probably been kidnapped.”
Earlier this week, France had reported the death of a French woman during the attacks, and later on October 9 of a second person after the attacks. The ministry of foreign affairs on Monday night stated that it was without news of 14 missing French people, including a 12-year-old child. On Tuesday, authorities confirmed the death count amounted to 4 people and that 13 others were still missing.
Meyer Habib, a French-Israeli member of Parliament representing French people living in Israel, on Monday had shared that a young man from Bordeaux was held hostage by Hamas. He added that seven other French people were missing or hostage.
About 200,000 French people live in Israel.
Germany
A German woman, who also has Israeli nationality, was recognized by her mother in videos spread on social media where her stripped, motionless body could be seen on the back of a truck being paraded by armed fighters. She was abducted while she participated in the festival near Gaza. Tuesday night, her mother told Bild she received evidence she was alive in a hospital in Gaza but that she had a serious head injury and was in critical condition.
The German Ministry of Foreign Affairs assumes some Germans are part of the hostages.
Italy
Two Italians, also with Israeli citizenship, are missing and could not be joined since Saturday, the minister of foreign affairs Antonio Tajani said on Monday night.
Mexico
The Mexican embassy in Israel reported that one Mexican woman and one Mexican man were allegedly taken hostage by Hamas on Saturday. Authorities opened an emergency form to provide assistance to Mexican citizens and about 500 filled it already.
Nepal
The ministry of foreign affairs of Nepal reported ten deaths and four wounded people during the attacks. It couldn’t get in touch with one person on Saturday.
Peru
Peru confirmed the death of a man who had dual citizenship. He lived in Israel, was part of the Israeli Defense Forces and died in combat against Hamas.
Three other people are missing. Two tourists, and one Israeli-Peruvian person who lives in Israel
Philippines
Five Filipinos could still not be joined on October 9, according to the Philippines ambassador in Israel. About 30,000 Filipinos live in Israel, but most are far from the border with Gaza. Also, 137 Filipinos live in Gaza, and 25 would have requested the Jordan embassy — Jordan currently works with the Philippines on repatriation of Filipino children who didn’t have a Jordanian passport to be allowed to leave Jordan — to be repatriated in the Philippines.
Russia
One Russian citizen has been killed, the Russian embassy in Israel reported on Monday.
According to the Russian embassy in Israel on Tuesday, four people were officially listed as missing. In total, nine people, either permanent residents or tourists, are assumed missing or still can’t be contacted.
Spain
Two Spanish people are missing. Spain’s justice on Wednesday opened an investigation for the disappearance of a married couple — the wife is not Spanish — and a woman with dual Spanish-Israeli citizenship serving in Israel military during the attacks.
Tanzania
The Tanzanian Embassy in Israel is looking for two students who are reported missing. The Tanzanian ambassador, Alex Kallua, said that the embassy is working to establish contact with approximately 350 citizens.
Thailand
The ministry of foreign affairs of Thailand reported on Wednesday that Hamas took 14 people hostage.
Thailand also declared that 20 Thai people died during the attacks but was still waiting for Israel to confirm the information. Thirteen people were injured.
On Tuesday, Israeli media reported that the 11 people initially reported kidnapped were working in the agriculture sector, like many other Thai workers in Israel, near the Gaza border (Gaza envelope).
Among the 30,000 Thai workers registered in Israel, there are currently 5,174 nationals who have expressed their wish to go back to Thailand and 64 people who said they would stay as of Wednesday.
Ukraine
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Oleg Nikolenko posted on Facebook on Wednesday that the number of casualties is three citizens. Nine Ukrainians were injured and are currently hospitalized. Six Ukrainians are missing, diplomats are searching for them along with Israeli law enforcement.
United Kingdom
A 26-year-old British man working as a security guard at the festival was reported missing.
United States
United States officials think there is a number of Americans being held hostages but are still trying to confirm reports.
President Biden stated that at least 11 American citizens were among those killed in the attacks.
