The UK nationals killed in Hamas attacks on Israel

The UK government has said “at least” nine British nationals were killed in Hamas’s surprise attack on Israel on 7 October. It says a further seven are missing, some of whom are feared dead or are being held hostage in Gaza.

The stories of those who have lost their lives are still emerging. These are the victims we have learned about so far.

British-Israeli Yonatan Rapoport was murdered in the Hamas attack on kibbutz Be’eri, southern Israel.

The father-of-two, known to his friends as Yoni, leaves behind children Yosefi and Aluma.

He was a fan of the Premier League football team Manchester United and was planning to go to Old Trafford – the team’s home ground in north-west England – next month for his son’s first game there.

Last week, BBC News was shown messages from a WhatsApp group of mothers within Be’eri communicating as Hamas’s attack on the kibbutz got under way.

British-born Lianne Sharabi was found dead after the Hamas attack on Kibbutz Be’eri, her family told the BBC.

Her two daughters – Noiya, 16, and Yahel, 13 – were missing in the days that followed. It was confirmed on 17 October that Yahel had been killed. Noiya is still missing.

Lianne was born in the UK but started a new life in southern Israel after marrying husband Eli. He is also missing.

In a statement, their British family called Lianne the “light of our family’s life”.

“She had a wonderful, caring nature. She would help anyone in trouble – be it physical, emotional or financial, she would be there for them. She was funny, with a dry sense of humour,” they said.

“We will miss our girl to the end of our days and keep her in our hearts forever, tucked away with the fondest memories of her 48 years.”

Relatives described Yahel as “a bundle of energy” who loved “riding her bike at breakneck speed around the kibbutz, playing football, singing and dancing to Tik Tok and YouTube with sister, Noiya, and, on occasions her British cousins”.

They said she had a strong sense of adventure, enjoyed scuba diving, sky diving and zip-lining, and had a keen interest in the natural world.

“We will never know what she could have become – a vet, an entertainer, a naturalist, maybe even the first Israeli woman in space.

“All we know is that there is a Yahel-shaped hole in our lives that can never be filled,” they said.

The 20-year-old attended north London’s JFS Jewish School before moving to Israel to serve in the military. Its headteacher said the school’s community was “devastated” and “heartbroken” at the news of the death.

Eliot, Mr Young’s brother, told the BBC: “Whenever I saw him, I always gave him a huge hug. And I will miss that smile. That hug and those laughs that we had together.”

Mr Young’s funeral, held at Israel’s national cemetery Mount Herzl, was interrupted after loud bangs were heard over Jerusalem.

A crowd of more than 1,000 people were forced to run and find cover between gravestones and under trees when air raid sirens started to sound.

Image source, Family handout

Bernard Cowan, who grew up in Glasgow before settling in Israel with his wife and three children, was killed in the attack.

Sammy Stein, chairman of Glasgow Friends of Israel, said Mr Cowan – who was a grandfather – returned to the city often and regularly visited Mr Stein’s peace advocacy stall in the city centre.

He told BBC Scotland that Mr Cowan lived “metres” from the Gaza barrier, adding: “It was quiet, it was peaceful and it was in the country. He loved it.”

Image source, Cowan family

Mr Marlowe was working as a security guard at the Supernova music festival, where 260 people were killed when it was stormed by militants.

The 26-year-old was reported missing from the event, which took place near the Re’im kibbutz a few miles from the Gaza barrier.

A friend told inews that he was a talented musician and DJ who was “happy and thriving” in Israel after relocating in 2021.

He is a former pupil of north London’s JFS Jewish School. When Mr Marlowe was still classed as missing, head teacher David Moody said the school community was praying for him.

Image source, Jake Marlowe

The family of Daniel Darlington have said they believe he is among those killed.

Mr Darlington was originally from Manchester but had been living in Berlin. The photographer had been visiting friends in Israel and was travelling with a German woman.

He was educated at Cheadle Hulme School, according to a memorial page.

In a statement posted on Instagram, his sister referred to him as Danny and “baby brother”. She said he was killed at the Nir Oz kibbutz alongside a friend.

She wrote: “Only days before he was riding his bike, laughing, taking photos of sunsets and enjoying life’s simple pleasures.”

Mr Darlington had intended to leave for Tel Aviv the day before the militants struck, she wrote, but had decided to stay an extra day to show his friend around the kibbutz.

Image source, Unknown

The sister of Roi, Ayelet Svatitzky, said her brother was killed after Hamas’s attack on Israel earlier this month.

Roi, 54, was found shot dead at the back of his home, she told the BBC.

“I’ve lost my brother, there’s nothing I can do about it. All I can do is bury him,” Ms Svatitzky said.

Her other brother, 51-year-old Nadav Popplewell, and mother Channah Peri, 79, are some of those being held hostage by the Palestinian militant group.

Ms Svatitzky was speaking to her mother on the phone when the gunmen entered her home. She said her mother’s neighbours later told her they had seen the militants take her relatives.

Roi, Mr Popplewell and Ms Svatitzky are all British citizens.

(The identities of those killed are not being routinely confirmed by the UK authorities. Information for this article is taken from BBC interviews with relatives of the victims and public tributes from organisations associated with them.)

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