As of yesterday Hamas is believed to be holding at least 239 people hostage in Gaza.
As of yesterday Hamas is believed to be holding at least 239 people hostage in Gaza.
This figure includes 25 Thai nationals, 21 Argentinians, 18 Germans, 10 Americans, seven French, seven Russians, four Hungarians, three Poles, three Portuguese, two Brits, two Filipinos, two Romanians and two Tanzanians.
Hamas is also holding hostage single nationals of Canada, Austria, Brazil, China, South Africa, Denmark, Ireland, Lithuania, Mexico, Nepal, the Netherlands, Serbia, Ukraine and Uruguay.
More than 330,000 Israeli citizens have returned from abroad since the start of “Operation Swords of Iron,” the Israel Airports Authority announced on Tuesday. This has increased the Jewish state’s population by almost 3.5%.
Israel’s Central Bureau of Statistics, however, recorded a sharp decrease in foreigners, including tourists, entering the country. Approximately 98,600 visitors traveled to Israel in October, a decrease of 73% compared to the same month in 2022.
Yesterday Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen was scheduled to travel to Brussels together with some of the families of the hostages, according to Hebrew media reports.
As part of the visit, Israel’s top diplomat will reportedly address the European Parliament and meet with senior E.U. officials.
[Photo: Screenshot of part of a video campaign to release the hostages on North Beach, Durban]