Sri Lankan woman reported missing in Israel confirmed dead

Sri Lankan national Anula Jayathilake, who was reported missing in Israel, was confirmed dead by the Israeli authorities, Sri Lankan Ambassador to Tel Aviv, Nimal Bandara says.

As per reports, she was killed in the recent attacks launched by the Palestinian militant group Hamas.

Her remains are expected to be received by the Sri Lankan embassy within two days.

Amid the violence that erupted between Israel and Palestine last week, two Sri Lankan women in Israel were reported missing.

Earlier today, the ambassador said 27 Sri Lankans living in northern Gaza are reportedly heading towards the southern part of the Palestinian enclave after the Israeli military ordered the evacuation of some 1 million Gazans in the northern parts, ahead of an impending ground offensive in retaliation for the surprise attack by Hamas.

The ambassador mentioned that the Representative Office of Sri Lanka in Palestine is assisting these Sri Lankans to safely travel to Egypt along with other evacuees.

He added that it has been confirmed that there are foreign nationals from around 36 countries including Sri Lanka, among the people who are being held hostage by Hamas militants.

After Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel on October 07, at least 2,800 Palestinians have been killed while at least 1,400 Israelis including some 286 soldiers were killed in Islamic militants’ attacks.