By Wednesday (11) morning, Latin American governments had confirmed the deaths of seven Argentinians, two Brazilians, two Peruvians, one Colombian and one Paraguayan. At least 15 Argentinians, three Peruvians, two Mexicans and one Brazilian remain missing, as reported by The Guardian.
Tens of thousands of Jews arrived in Latin America in the 1930s and 40s, fleeing Nazi persecution in Europe. Today, Latin America boasts several large Jewish communities, the biggest of which is in Argentina, home to an estimated 180,000 Jews. About 92,000 live in Brazil and 40,000 in Mexico.
In recent years thousands of Latin American Jews have chosen to return from the diaspora to live in Israel – often seeking better economic opportunities or to escape the urban violence that plagues many countries in the Americas.
Many of the Latin American victims of the Hamas attack had done just that, including the two Brazilians so far confirmed dead.
According to The Guardian, Ranani Glazer and Bruna Valeanu, both 24, were killed at the Supernova music festival on Saturday. Glazer was from south Brazil but moved to Israel where he dreamed of becoming a DJ. Valeanu was from Rio de Janeiro but reportedly moved to Israel last year to study at university.
Source: The Guardian