Foreign nationals from several countries are missing in action in Israel, with many believed to either be held hostage or murdered by Hamas terrorists. Several nations have shared details of their missing and murdered as Israel continues to get bombarded by rocket fire from both Gaza and Israel’s northern border.
Israel is a country filled with immigrants who arrived from nations like Mexico, England, the United States, Nepal, Argentina, Russia, and many others. The country is also filled with people who were visiting on vacation for the High Holy Day season.
Switzerland and Hungary have arranged for mass evacuation of citizens living in Israel, arranging special flights to get them back to their country of origin, with no clear statement on whether any of their citizens are unaccounted for.
Missing London native Jake Marlowe was working security at the nature festival that was attacked, adding to speculation of his whereabouts in addition to the more than 10 British citizens that were confirmed dead or missing.Several Brazilians are yet to be accounted for, leading the Brazilian community in Israel to raise awareness of their status, believed to either have been killed or held hostage and taken to Gaza. Among the missing include Bruna Valeanu, Karla Stelzer, and Ranani Glazer.
Outside of the United States Embassy in Tel Aviv, parents and loved ones of Itay Chen gathered in the hopes of gaining the attention of US President Joe Biden to help locate the American-born Israeli. Chen was born in New York City and moved to Netanya with his family as a baby.
His father, Ruby Chen, led a protest outside of the embassy with signs that read things like “USA protects its citizens” and “Help find Itay.”
Chen told The Jerusalem Post that any American who went to public school recited the pledge of allegiance daily and that the pledge had to stand for all Americans, including those living in Israel and abroad. “Kids need to know that the US is behind all of its citizens,” he added.
After losing contact with their son yesterday morning, Chen’s parents went to a center for the missing. They were made aware that their son’s status was officially missing in action (MIA) and that he was not confirmed as hospitalized or dead.
Itay Chen’s younger brother was set to celebrate his bar mitzvah this coming Saturday, expecting to share it with his family. “We are still hopeful that we will be able to celebrate together as a family,” Chen added.
Over 1,000 Thai migrant workers seek rescue
Thailand said on Monday it is working with Jordan, Egypt, and Malaysia to secure the release of its citizens taken hostage during a shock Hamas attack on Israel, with over 1,000 Thai migrant workers caught in the conflict looking to return home. “We are coordinating with countries that have links to the country that have taken our nationals hostage to negotiate for their release,” Jakkapong Sangmanee, told a press briefing.
A dozen Thai nationals were killed, nine wounded and 11 more kidnapped, Thailand’s government said when Hamas militants burst across the border fence from Gaza on a rampage that killed at least 700 Israelis.
Some Thai workers were huddling in bunkers in southern Israel, awaiting rescue.
Negotiations towards securing the release of the Thai hostages have been “very positive,” Sangmanee said, without elaborating.
Some 1,400 Thais have signed up to be evacuated, he said, adding the first group to return home would be those injured.
Around 30,000 Thai nationals work in Israel, making up one of the largest migrant worker groups in the country, where fighting between Israeli troops and Hamas gunmen was still ongoing in several locations on Monday.
Reuters contributed to this report.