Israeli authorities have confirmed that the remains of a hostage recovered in Gaza belong to a Tanzanian student who had been missing since the October conflict began. The student, identified as Clemence Felix Mtenga, was among several foreign nationals believed to have been taken hostage during the early days of the fighting between Israel and Hamas.
According to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), the remains were discovered during a recent ground operation in northern Gaza. DNA testing later confirmed the identity of the victim, who had been studying in Israel under an international scholarship program. Officials said the student was likely killed during the initial Hamas assault on Israeli border communities.
The Tanzanian government expressed deep sorrow over the confirmation, extending condolences to the student’s family and calling for continued international efforts to secure the release of remaining hostages. Tanzania’s foreign ministry said it remains in contact with Israeli authorities to ensure the repatriation of Mtenga’s remains.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu offered condolences, describing the discovery as a “painful reminder of Hamas’s brutality.” He reaffirmed Israel’s commitment to recovering all hostages still held in Gaza and bringing their captors to justice.
The IDF said several operations are ongoing to locate both living and deceased hostages in Gaza, though the situation remains complex due to the ongoing conflict. International organizations have repeatedly urged both sides to allow humanitarian access to assist in identifying and retrieving victims.
This tragic confirmation adds to the growing number of international casualties in the Gaza war, which continues to draw global concern over civilian safety and the fate of missing persons.
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