Second Tanzanian student confirmed dead in Israel-Hamas war
Thursday December 14 2023
Tanzania’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation January Makamba briefing journalists. PHOTO | AFP
A second Tanzanian student Joshua Mollel who went missing in Israel in October has been confirmed dead, the government said on Thursday.
Minister for Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation January Makamba said that Joshua was killed on October 7.
Joshua, 21, was one of the two Tanzanians who had been missing since October 7, 2023 during the recent conflict between Israel and Hamas.
“We have been informed by the government of Israel that Joshua Mollel, a young Tanzanian who was studying in Israel, was killed immediately after being taken hostage by Hamas on October 7, 2023,” Mr Makamba posted on X.
Read: Tanzania: Student abducted by Hamas is dead
“I have spoken with Joshua’s father about the message from the Israeli government. We are continuing with the previous initial plan to send Mzee Mollel and another family member together with a government official to Israel, to meet with our ambassador and officials in Israel for further information. With the consent of the family, when necessary, we will provide additional information in the future,” Makamba said.
The confirmation of Joshua’s death comes about two weeks after another Tanzanian student who also died in Hamas-Israel conflict was buried home.
Clemence Mtenga, 22, was laid to rest in Tanzania, following his death was announced after he, too, went missing since October 7, 2023.
Read: Tanzanian student killed in Israel-Hamas conflict buried
Joshua and Clemence were among 260 Tanzanian students who went to Israel for internship in agriculture-related programmes.