Tanzanian student taken hostage by Hamas confirmed dead
A Tanzanian government official has verified that a student who was held captive during the Hamas attack on Israel has passed away.
The Clemence Two Tanzanians, including 22-year-old Felix Mtenga, were captured by the group on October 7. It is unknown how he passed away.
Israel was reportedly informed by the country’s foreign ministry regarding the whereabouts of Joshua Mollel, the second Tanzanian hostage.
During the assault, Hamas captured over 230 hostages and caused the deaths of at least 1,200 individuals.
According to Israel, the detainees, who were transferred from Israel to the Gaza Strip, are from twenty-five countries, one of which is an unidentified South African.
An estimated 260 Tanzanians are enrolled in agricultural programs in Israel, according to the foreign ministry of Israel (X). Both Mr. Mtenga and Mr. Mollel had completed internships in the country as part of these programs.
The two individuals, who had only arrived in Israel in September, were scheduled to pursue an eleven-month academic program there.
Mr. Mtenga had been residing on Kibbutz Nir Oz and working in the afternoons at a dairy farm, according to information obtained by the BBC from an acquaintance and fellow student.
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His sister stated last month when the news of his abduction emerged, that his entire family was concerned but remained optimistic that he would be rescued.
She said: “He should be courageous where he is, know that we love him and that we pray for him day and night, hoping that he will be back soon.”
The Tanzanian foreign ministry stated that Mr. Mtenga’s family had been notified and that arrangements were being made with the Israeli government to repatriate his remains.
At present, the whereabouts of Mr. Mollel remain obscure.
His father told the BBC that he was unable to sleep or eat before the confirmation that he had been held hostage because he was desperate to know what had transpired.
The last words he said to his son before he disappeared were: “Be on your best behavior because you’re somewhere new, and make the most of the internship you’re there to do.”
To date, four hostages have been liberated, with an additional one having been liberated by Israeli forces.
Hamas, which the United Kingdom, the United States, and certain other nations classify as a terrorist organization, claims to have concealed the hostages in “safe places and tunnels” within Gaza.
Tanzanian student taken hostage by Hamas confirmed dead