More than 10 Britons ‘feared dead or missing’ in Israel

More than 10 Britons are feared dead or missing in Israel, Sky News understands.

It comes after Briton Corporal Nathanel Young, 20, who was serving in the Israeli army, was killed in an attack by Hamas militants.

Israeli forces are currently fighting Hamas in two locations inside Israel, after the country formally declared war on the militant group.

At least 700 people have reportedly been killed in Israel and 560 have died in Gaza as Israel retaliated with airstrikes in an operation which has been dubbed “Swords of Iron”.

In a post on Facebook, Mr Young’s family said they are “heartbroken”, adding: “Our little brother Nathanel Young was tragically killed on the Gaza Border yesterday.”

Israel-Gaza latest: Israel under ‘huge’ rocket barrage

A second British man in Israel is also missing from the area of the attacks and is feared dead.

Dan Darlington is originally from the UK but was living in Germany and had been visiting Israel.

A third, Jake Marlowe, 26, has been “missing near Gaza” since Saturday morning after Hamas attacked a music festival in southern Israel, the country’s embassy in the UK told Sky News on Monday.

Around nine American citizens have also been killed in Israel, US state department spokesperson Matthew Miller said.

“We extend our deepest condolences to the victims and to the families of all those affected, and wish those injured a speedy recovery,” he said.

Some US citizens remain unaccounted for.

Mr Miller said the US is working with Israeli counterparts to determine their whereabouts.

‘We all feel his loss’

Mr Young was a former pupil at JFS Jewish School in north London, a Jewish mixed comprehensive school in Kenton.

In a statement posted on social media, the school said: “We all feel his loss and send our love and condolences to his family.”

It said the school prides itself on the relationship it creates between students and Israel, with “almost all” of its pupils having friends and family who live in the country.

Read more:
Haunting messages left by Israelis taken hostage
What is Hamas – and why has it chosen now to strike?
At least 260 bodies found after attack on Israeli music festival

“That is why the barbaric and atrocious acts of terrorism committed in Israel over the past couple of days have caused us all such pain and distress. We are, after all, am echad b’lev echad – one people with one heart,” the statement read.

Mr Marlowe is another former JFS pupil. The school said it is praying for him and everyone else missing that they are “swiftly and safely returned home”.

Around 50,000 to 60,000 British nationals are believed to be in either Israel and Gaza, according to government estimates.

Scotland’s first minister has said his parents in-law are “trapped” in Gaza after visiting family, leaving him worried if they will “make it through the night”.

“As many will know, my wife is Palestinian, her mum and dad, my in-laws, who live in Dundee, live in Scotland, they’ve been in Gaza and are currently trapped, I’m afraid,” Humza Yousef told journalists on Monday.

He issued an “unequivocal condemnation” of the Hamas attack and said his in-laws are not guaranteed safe passage anywhere.

The British Foreign Office has advised against all but essential travel to the region, due to the ongoing conflict.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is currently holding an emergency COBRA meeting to discuss the situation in Israel.