At least 30 Americans have died in Israel since Hamas launched a surprise attack. Here’s what we know about them.
(NewsNation) — At least 30 Americans have been killed in Israel since Hamas launched a surprise terror attack earlier this month, according to the U.S. State Department.
That number has gone up in recent days as officials continue to investigate the full scale of Hamas’ brutal surprise assault on Oct. 7. The U.S. is currently aware of 13 missing citizens, officials said Sunday.
It’s unclear how many, if any, U.S. citizens have died in Gaza.
Here’s what we know about the Americans who have been killed.
A 50-year-old Missouri native, Matias died while shielding her 16-year-old son from gunshots, according to her father, Illan Troen. He was on the phone with Matias when Hamas terrorists attacked the family’s home.
“The last words from her was that ‘I hear glass breaking, they’re speaking in Arabic and I hear shots,’” Troen told MSNBC.
Matias’ husband, Shlomi, also died in the attack, Troen said. Thanks to his parents, the couple’s 16-year-old son, Rotem, survived.
A 32-year-old peace activist, Katsman was found killed in his home on Kibbutz Holit, according to the New York Times.
He had recently completed his doctorate at the University of Washington, where he served as co-coordinator of an Israel-Palestine research group, the Times reported.
Katsman died while hiding in a closet with his neighbor, Avital Alajem. His body absorbed the gunfire and protected Alajem, she told CNN.
Flash, 67, originally from St. Paul, Minnesota, was killed along with her Israeli husband, Igal, per USA Today. The couple were living in Kfar Aza, a kibbutz in southern Israel near Gaza.
Flash’s daughter, Keren, was exchanging text messages with her mother when Hamas terrorists attacked.
“They are breaking down the safe room door,” Flash said in one of her final messages.
