The Spaniards affected by the attack against Israel are a young Basque man and a young Andalusian woman

MADRID, 9 Oct. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The two Spaniards who have been affected by the large-scale attack launched on Saturday by the Islamist movement Hamas against Israel have been identified as a young Basque man who lived in a kibbutz near the Gaza Strip and a young Andalusian woman with dual nationality who He was doing military service, as 'El Confidencial' has announced and knowledgeable sources have confirmed to Europa Press.

The acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, was the one who reported this Monday that there were two Spaniards affected, but he did not want to go into details about whether they were among those killed or injured in the attack or, on the contrary, they would be among the more than a hundred kidnapped by the militiamen.

Albares has avoided offering more details for "security reasons" and also out of "respect" for their families and themselves. "We are following him very closely, we have their identities, we are in contact with both the authorities and their families," he said.

Specifically, it would be Iván Illarramendi Saizar, born 46 years ago in Zarautz (Gipuzkoa) and who lives in the Kissufim kibbutz, near the Gaza Strip, with his wife, and Maya Villalobo Sinvany, 19 years old and whose Father resides in Seville. In the case of the young woman, with dual nationality, she was in Israel to perform her military service and was at an Army post in Nahal Oz, also close to Gaza.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced this Monday that the towns near the Gaza Strip are "under their control" after the operation launched by Hamas, which has already left more than 700 Israelis dead and more than one is believed to have died. hundreds kidnapped, but has warned of the possible presence of terrorists in the vicinity.

Several videos have been published on social networks both from Kissufim, where armed militiamen can be seen firing shots, as well as from the Nahal Oz base, which the assailants managed to take during the attack.

Diplomatic sources have put the number of Spaniards in Israel and the Palestinian Territories at around 10,000, of which a good part are people with dual nationality.

On the other hand, Foreign Affairs has updated the travel recommendations to Israel, warning that "as long as the current situation persists and given the potential for rapid deterioration," it is recommended to increase precautions and follow the instructions of local authorities, "avoiding any travel that does not absolutely necessary, and that they remain inside their homes or accommodations and near the designated shelters in their area.

Likewise, the department headed by Albares advises against traveling to Israel "given the existing risks and the possibility of cancellation of flights" and recommends those who are already there to contact airlines or travel agencies before traveling to Ben Airport. Gurion.

Staff from both the Spanish Embassy in Tel Aviv and the Consulate General in Jerusalem have traveled to it over the weekend to assist the Spaniards who require it. Likewise, the Embassy and the Consulate have established emergency telephone numbers: 972 505772641 and 972 599276538.