South Africans, Tanzanians, Others Killed, Abducted or Missing After Hamas Attack

A picture showing plums of smoke ascending over the northern Gaza Strip following Israeli military strikes, amid the ongoing battles between Israel and Hamas, Oct. 16, 2023,

PARIS, FRANCE — Israeli military officials Monday said scores of foreigners were killed, wounded or taken hostage after an attack that was carried out last week by Hamas, leaving more than 1,400 people dead in the Middle eastern nation.

Israeli military officials said 199 people were abducted amid ongoing conflict in Gaza, while health authorities reported the death of over 2,750 people in retaliatory strikes.

According to an AFP count, more than 160 foreigners were confirmed dead by their national authorities, many of whom also held Israeli nationality.

Here is what we know so far:

South Africa's department for International Relations last week said two citizens were killed in the conflict between Hamas and Israel.

Speaking during an interview with the South African Broadcasting Corporation, SABC, Clayson Monyela, the department's spokesperson said, "we have been notified that two South African nationals have died in this ongoing conflict between Palestine and Israel."

"The verification process is currently underway because one of the individuals is reported to have an Israeli ID number, so we need to determine whether it is dual citizenship or what the picture is," Monyela added.

Tanzania's ambassador to Israel said the location of two nationals of the East African nation is unknown.

A U.S. State Department spokesperson that addressed media on Sunday said at least 30 Americans were killed amid the ongoing attacks by Hamas.

13 others remain unaccounted for, the U.S. spokesperson added.

France's Foreign Minister, Catherine Colonna, Sunday completed a diplomatic visit to Israel, where she spoke to media.

The French official said 19 nationals were killed and 13 remain missing, resulting from the Hamas attack.

Other nations including Russia, Nepal and Argentina have reported the death of their citizens resulting from the conflict in Gaza.

Some information for this article was sourced from Agence France Presse and the South African Broadcasting Corporation.