A 20-year-old British man serving in the Israeli army has been killed in an attack by Hamas militants, while another British citizen is missing.
The family of Nathanel Young, who was serving with the Israel Defence Forces when he was killed on Saturday, said: “We’re heartbroken to share that our little brother Nathanel Young was tragically killed on the Gaza border yesterday.”
Young joined the IDF in August 2022, according to his Facebook page. He was a keen DJ and had attended the Jewish Free School in London. His sister, Gaby Shalev, said she was “in absolute shock”.
His death came as 26-year-old Jake Marlowe, who went to the same school, was reported missing following the surprise attacks by Hamas launched on Saturday.
Marlowe, originally from London, was providing security at a party in the desert near Kibbutz Re’im when the attack was launched in the early hours of Saturday, his mother, Lisa, told Jewish News, a British newspaper.
A spokesperson at the Israeli embassy in London confirmed to the Guardian they understood from his mother that Marlowe was missing but they had no further information on his whereabouts. They said: “We don’t know where he is. He has been missing since Saturday, his mother says.”
“We don’t know how many people have been taken hostage,” they added.
The attack caused mass panic at the “nature party” music event in the western Negev desert, close to the border with Gaza, a Palestinian territory.
Israel’s ambassador to the UK, Tzipi Hotovely, told Sky News on Sunday morning: “There is one British citizen that is in Gaza at the moment and I know that Israel is doing everything to make sure all the people being kept hostage at the moment in the hands of Hamas will be released.”
She added: “But it’s a long and complicated war and this is where we need your support in order to make sure that every single civilian that is being taken will be brought back to Israel, where they belong.
Marlowe’s mother told Jewish News: “He was doing security at this rave yesterday and called me at 4.30am to say all these rockets were flying over. Then, at about 5.30am, he texted to say: ‘Signal very bad, everything OK, will keep you updated I promise you,’ and that he loves me.”
She has been unable to contact him since. “I’ve left him lots of WhatsApp messages but I’ve not been able to leave him a [voice] message,” she added. “I can’t bear to listen to the phone just ringing and not being answered.”
Marlowe attended the Jewish Free School in London and in 2013 went on a tour of Israel with BBYO, a Jewish teen movement, where he visited Yad Vashem, Israel’s Holocaust memorial and remembrance centre.
Israeli media has reported that at least 300 people were killed in the attacks which started on Saturday, including 26 soldiers. It prompted Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, to declare the country was at “war” as it launched a military response.
The Israeli ambassador said British families in Israel had to “hide in safe rooms, some with, I believe, a baby as young as 10 days old, and so many international victims being taken hostage”.
Hotovely told Sky News: “Obviously, that will be a priority for the British government. I would expect the ministers will be in today working on precisely how we can get that individual to safety working with our allies. It’s crucial we do not give the terrorists what they want but, at the same time, first and foremost the duty of the British government is to keep British nationals safe.”
A spokesperson for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said: “We are in contact with – and assisting – the families of several individuals in Israel and the OPTs [occupied Palestinian territories].
“The safety of all British nationals continues to be our utmost priority and we urge everyone to continue to follow our travel advice which is updated regularly. British nationals requiring consular assistance should call the following numbers: +972 (0)3 725 1222 or +972 (2) 5414100. If you experience technical difficulties with these or if you are in the UK, call +44 20 7008 5000.”
The UK government is advising against all travel to Gaza, the Sheba’a Farms and Ghajar, close to the border with Lebanon, east of Metula, including the northern edge of the town and within 500 metres of the border with Syria.
It is advising against all but essential travel to areas north of and including Jenin city, Burqin and Arranah in the north of the West Bank. This includes Jenin refugee camp and all areas north of this until the Jalamah checkpoint for access to Israel. People should not visit the city of Nablus, Joseph’s Tomb, and the Balata and New Askar refugee camps near Nablus and the village of Huwara, unless essential.
