By Enyichukwu Enemanna
Authorities have announced the killing of at least two South Africans in the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas.
The war began after Hamas militants launched a deadly attack on Israel over the weekend and has since escalated.
In a statement on Friday, South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) announced the development but did reveal the identity of the victims.
“The Department of International Relations and Cooperation can confirm that we have been notified that two South African nationals have died in this ongoing conflict between Palestine and Israel,” said Dirco spokesperson Clayson Monyela.
“The verification process is currently under way because one of the individuals is reported to have an Israeli ID number, so we need to determine whether there is dual citizenship or what the picture is.”
Mr Monyela expressed the government’s condolences to the families of those killed in the war.
He said: “Our missions in Ramallah and Tel Aviv are coordinating efforts and also rendering consular assistance and services to the families of our nationals.”
Report says more than 2,700 people in Israel and Gaza have since been killed since the start of the war.
