Tanzanian Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation Minister January Makamba announced on Thursday, December 14, 2023, that the Government of Israel informed them that Joshua Mollel, a young Tanzanian who was studying in Israel, was killed immediately after being taken hostage by the Hamas group on October 07, 2023.
“We have been informed by the Government of Israel that Joshua Mollel, a young Tanzanian who was studying in Israel, and with whom we lost contact since October 7, 2023, and with whom the Government has been making great efforts to acquire his information since then, was killed immediately after being captured by the Hamas group on October 7, 2023. I have spoken with Elder Mollel, Joshua’s biological father, about the message from the Israeli Government. We are continuing with the original plan to send Elder Mollel and another family member together with a government official to Israel, to meet with our Ambassador and officials there, and have a conversation with the authorities of that country to get additional information. With the consent of the family, and when necessary, we will provide additional information in the future,” the minister said via a post on X.
On November 17, 2023, the Government of Tanzania announced the death of another student, Clemence Felix Mtenga, who was living in Israel and was killed on November 7, 2023. Clemence Mtenga and Joshua Mollel were the two students from Tanzania who went missing since the start of the fighting between Hamas and Israel. They were reportedly part of the 240 individuals that Hamas had captured.
Molle, who was 21 years old, had left Tanzania for the first time and landed in Israel in mid-September.
According to Hamas, the Israeli operation in Gaza has claimed the lives of almost 18,600 individuals.