By Enyichukwu Enemanna
Tanzanian authorities have confirmed the death of 22-year-old Clemence Felix Mtenga, an agricultural intern believed to have been abducted in Israel during the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas militants.
At least 260 Tanzanian students are studying in Israel, as part of an agricultural internship programme, Israel’s foreign ministry said on X.
Mr Mtenga who had been living on Kibbutz Nir Oz and working at a dairy farm in the afternoons according to a BBC report only landed in Israel in September.
He was due to study there for 11 months, a programme which is part of agreement between the Israeli and Tanzanian governments.
Details of how Mtenga died or where or how his body was found weren’t released by either government.
Another Tanzanian student, Joshua Mollel, also believed to have been taken by Hamas, is still missing, the Tanzanian government said.
Officials have said that a number of foreign nationals are believed to be among the Hamas hostages.
Thailand reports that at least 23 Thais, mostly agricultural workers, are believed to have been abducted by Hamas, The Associated Press reported. Many more may be missing and 32 have been reported killed.
The Israeli government confirmed the deaths of two hostages this week.
The bodies of Noa Marciano, a 19-year-old Israeli soldier, and 65-year-old Yehudit Weiss, who was abducted by Hamas from kibbutz Be’eri, were both found in buildings near Gaza’s Al-Shifa Hospital, the Israel Defense Forces said.
The Israeli military launched a ground operation at the hospital, which it claims Hamas has used as a command center, early Wednesday morning.
Tanzania’s foreign ministry said they are communicating with the Israeli government to ensure Mtenga’s remains are sent home for burial.
