British man, 20, serving in Israeli army killed in Hamas surprise attack

08 October 2023 , 11:25

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Nathaniel’s Facebook page says he studied at the Capital City College Group and was keen on travelling and hip-hop dancing.

A young British man who was serving in the Israeli army has been killed in an attack by Hamas fighters, it has been reported.

Corporal Nathaniel Young, 20, from London, was listed as living in Tel Aviv and a member of the army’s 13th Battalion. Gaby Shalev, from London, posted on Facebook saying the family are "heartbroken", adding: "Our little brother Nathaniel Young was tragically killed on the Gaza Border yesterday."

His death comes after 26-year-old Jake Marlow, who went to the same London school as Nathaniel, was reported missing while providing security at a music festival near the Gaza border. Nathaniel, a former pupil at JFS Jewish school in Kenton, north London, had been living in the Bayit Shel Benji lone-soldier house in Raanana, according to the Jewish News.

The post was full of messages of condolences and an outpouring of love. One person said: "Gaby I’m beyond devastated to read this. There are no words. May his memory be a blessing. I wish you all a long life and send all the love in the world to you, your siblings and your mum and dad." Another said: "Gaby I’m so terribly sorry and choked to read this. My thoughts are with you and your family and sending so much love during this unimaginable pain."

Israeli ambassador to the United Kingdom Tzipi Hotovely confirmed that a British citizen "is in Gaza" following kidnappings by Hamas, but did not clarify if they were being held hostage. She told Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips on Sky News: "I know there is one British citizen who is in Gaza at the moment. "The Israeli government is doing everything we can to help those who are held hostage and every citizen who is taken is returned." Foreign Affairs Committee chairwoman Alicia Kearns said the Government's priority would be ensuring the safety of the missing Briton as well as other British nationals in Israel.

Israel admits ‘serious failures’ over deadly strike but insists aid workers were mistaken for Hamas

There was still some fighting underway more than 24 hours after an unprecedented surprise attack from Gaza, in which Hamas militants, backed by a volley of thousands of rockets, broke through Israel's security barrier and rampaged through nearby communities. They took captives back into the coastal Gaza enclave, including women, children and the elderly, who they will likely try to trade for thousands of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. Hundreds have been killed on both sides. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the country was at war and would exact a heavy price from its enemies. Hamas leaders said they were prepared for further escalation.

Rachel Hagan