Nine U.S. citizens and four Argentines are among the more than 700 people killed by militant group Hamas in Israel, part of what's been the largest attack against the country in a generation and fueled a response that currently involves a "total siege" of the Gaza Strip. At least 13 additional citizens from different Latin American countries and an unconfirmed number of Americans are still missing, with Hamas and the Islamic Jihad claiming they have about 130 hostages in Gaza.
State Department spokesperson Matt Miller confirmed the amount of Americans killed, saying that authorities "continue to monitor the situation closely and remain in touch with our Israeli partners, particularly the local authorities." Moreover, Argentine General Consul in Tel Aviv, Ramiro Gutiérrez, confirmed the figure related to the country.
The U.S. and Argentina have the first and fifth largest Jewish communities outside of Israel, respectively. Many of them travel regularly to the country and have economic, social and cultural ties with it. It is likely at least some of the people killed had been living in Israel.
Argentine outlet Infobae has reported that at least four additional Argentines are missing, while CNN recounted nine more from other Latin American countries: Peru, Paraguay and Mexico cannot locate two nationals each, while three Brazilian nationals are missing, according to its government. Several governments are seeking to chart flights to repatriate those stranded in the country, as many airlines have announced cancellations. Hamas said it specifically targeted the Ben Gurion international airport in Tel Aviv on Sunday night.
The figures could increase as more evidence of the attack's scale emerges. According to CNN, the current toll already includes 12 Thai citizens, two Ukrainians, 10 Nepali, two French and one British citizen.
Asides from those who lived and worked in Israel, the country is a popular touristic destination. At the center of the attack were about 250 people who attended a music festival near Gaza, many of them foreigners. Most of the attendees were killed. One of them, Shani Louk, who has Israeli-German nationality, was identified in social media videos paraded by militants in Gaza. The German Foreign Ministry told CNN it "has to assume" that there are other nationals among the kidnapped.
Israeli authorities ordered a "complete siege of Gaza" and massed tens of thousands of troops near the strip after vowing to defeat the Palestinian militant group whose surprise attack the shocked nation has likened to the U.S.'s 9/11. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said that no electricity, food, fuel or water will be delivered to the enclave.
Earlier in the day, authorities confirmed that there were no longer combats within Israeli land and that it had retaken control of all its territory. But sirens continued to blare and rockets and anti-missiles munitions streaked through the sky to the roar of fighter jets as plumes of black smoke rose above Gaza.
Palestinians in the crowded coastal territory of 2.3 million people braced for what many feared will be a massive Israeli ground attack aiming to defeat Hamas and liberate at least 100 hostages. In fact, former Prime Minister Yair Lapid said that an incursion is "not off the table," but that the country must take into account the hostages.
© 2024 Latin Times. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
