Number of Ukrainians killed in Israel up to 21 - MFA

This was reported to Ukrinform by the spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Oleg Nikolenko.

"Unfortunately, the number of victims among Ukrainians in Israel has increased. In total, we currently have confirmed 21 Ukrainians dead, as well as one gone missing. In the Gaza Strip, there are three dead (two children and an adult), as well as six wounded, of whom three are children. Citizens have suffered injuries of varying severity. They are being provided with medical assistance," said Nikolenko.

He also reported that 357 Ukrainians, including 208 women, expressed their will to evacuate the Palestinian enclave. Ukrainian diplomatic institutions are in constant contact with them. At the same time, the Rafah checkpoint on the border of the Gaza Strip and Egypt has been shut down, and it is currently impossible to cross out, the spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted.

"This applies not only to our citizens, but also to citizens of other states. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, together with its partners, is working with the parties involved to obtain permission to evacuate our people as soon as possible," the diplomat added.

As reported, on the morning of October 7, the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas launched an attack on Israel. Militants penetrated into the country, simultaneously launching a massive rocket strike. The invasion was accompanied by mass killings of civilians, including children. As a result of the attack, militants killed more than 1,400 Israelis and took hundreds hostage.

Israel has officially declared a state of war and mobilized 300,000 reservists to respond to the terrorist attack and invasion, starting a campaign to destroy the group’s military facilities inn= high-precision strikes.

The Israeli military warned the UN on October 13 that the entire population of Gaza north of Wadi Gaza should move to the southern part of the area within the next 24 hours. About 1.1 million people inhabit the mentioned region. Currently, the evacuation from this region continues despite obstructions from Hamas.

The US, the EU, Ukraine, and a number of other countries have condemned the attacks on Israel.