Israeli President Herzog meets with ambassadors from nations with citizens killed or abducted by Hamas

Israeli President Isaac Herzog met with ambassadors to Israel from Thailand, the Philippines, Tanzania and Nepal on Thursday, all of whom represent countries with citizens who were either killed or taken hostage alongside Israelis in the brutal Oct. 7 massacre by Hamas.

Agriculture students, caregivers and farm workers were among those killed or taken hostage to Gaza.

During the meeting, Herzog focused on the valuable contribution that the foreign nationals have made to Israeli society and its industry. He also said he shared their concern and grief.

“We are here because of the tragedy that has befallen the people of Israel, and many people from your nations,” the president told the ambassadors. “We know that many of your citizens in Israel were murdered, killed, tortured, wounded, and unfortunately, taken hostage.”

“I want to thank you, ambassadors. Your citizens are part and parcel of the people of Israel in facing the atrocities of the worst kind of on the 7th of October, witnessing the horrors and showing immense bravery, solidarity, and strength,” Herzog added.

He noted that the Hamas terrorists did not distinguish between religion, citizenship and ethnicity in their atrocities.

“Many have lost their lives in tragic circumstances because they were attacked, because Hamas does not differentiate between any religion, any belief, any country, any state. Thirty-six countries are represented in this entire tragedy. But your countries are represented the most in terms of the fact that so many citizens of yours have faced this horrendous atrocity.”

Herzog promised to bring every hostage back from Gaza, assuring the ambassadors that their citizens are highly appreciated by the people of Israel. He specifically mentioned caregivers from the Philippines who play a crucial role in Israeli society.

“We know how painful this is because we all were in agony, and your nations are in agony, and we will work tirelessly to bring everybody back home. Your citizens have been ruthlessly abducted and taken to Gaza as innocent people who came to study and work in our country and do good. The Israeli people love and appreciate your people.”

Thailand's Ambassador to Israel Pannabha Chandraramya thanked the President and said that the Thai people were the foreign group that suffered the most casualties after Israel.

“It's a sad occasion as you mentioned, for us, the Thai people, we are suffering a lot, I think we are the second group after Israel who suffer with this loss. So far, we have confirmed that 23 Thai people were murdered, there are still some to be identified. As for those murdered, they were identified by the DNA test. And, as of now, we have four still in the hospital, one is still unconscious from the very first day, and we got confirmation of 29 that are held hostage.”

The ambassador of the Philippines, Pedro R. Laylo, Jr. said that four Filipino citizens were killed by Hamas.

“Because of the attack, four Philippine citizens were murdered. They were caregivers. In one account, she was protecting her ward, and they poured gasoline over them.”

Nepal's Ambassador to Israel, Kanta Rizal, said that 10 students were murdered by Hamas.

“Ten Nepali students, young students who come here every year for 11 months for the MASHAV program were murdered, one is missing and we have four injured.”

The ambassador of Tanzania, Alex Gabriel Kallua, said that out of 262 students of agriculture in Israel, two were missing.

“Tanzania has more than 262 students doing intense agriculture studies. And we have two missing. They were working in the south near the Gaza border. From the information we have, nobody's recovered them, and we think that they are among the abductees in Gaza.”