AT LEAST 10 British nationals have been killed in the conflict between Israel and Hamas and a further six remain missing, junior British finance minister Victoria Atkins told Times Radio on Tuesday (24).
In a separate interview, Atkins said the government believed those six Britons were being held hostage.
"They are our absolute priority," she told Sky News.
The family of Noiya Sharabi, 16, confirmed she had been killed in a kibbutz attack.
Among the dead was Sharabi's sister Yahel, 13, as well as their mother Lianne. Their father, Eli, is still missing.
A 22-year-old Irish-Israeli woman was killed in the attacks, the Irish government said.
Scores of foreigners were killed, wounded or taken hostage after Hamas attacked Israel on October 7.
The worst attack in Israel's 75-year history killed more than 1,400 people, mostly civilians, inside the country, according to Israeli officials.
Israel has responded with bombardment that has killed over 5,000 people in the Gaza Strip, mostly civilians, according to the Hamas-controlled health ministry in the territory.
According to reports, around 200 foreigners have been confirmed dead by their national authorities, many of them also holding Israeli nationality.
Some 222 people have been confirmed as having been abducted, Israel has said.
Meanwhile, Hamas on Monday (23) said it had freed two Israeli women who were among the more than 200 hostages taken during its rampage in southern Israel.
(Agencies)
FILE PHOTO: Floral tributes are laid following a vigil for the victims of the knife attack in Southport, Britain July 30, 2024. REUTERS/Temilade Adelaja
