What’s happening:

A memorial ceremony, hosted by Israel’s Foreign Ministry, was recently held to honor the memory of Joshua Mollel, a Tanzanian agronomy student who was killed by Hamas terrorists. His body, seized following his murder, is still being held by Hamas in Gaza.

Why it matters:

The holding of Mollel’s body is a pressing humanitarian issue, stirring an international plea from his family and significant diplomatic efforts from the Israeli government. This call underscores the longstanding issue of Hamas’s policy of retaining the bodies of victims as political leverage, which is a matter of international concern and contravenes ethical treatment as stipulated in various international accords.

The big picture:

Family members of the late Joshua Mollel, along with senior officials from both the Tanzanian and Israeli Foreign Ministries, gathered for a ceremony where a memorial candle was lit. Tanzanian representatives and members of MASHAV, Israel’s Agency for International Development Cooperation, were also present.

Details:

During the ceremony, Foreign Minister Eli Cohen emphasized Israel’s commitment to ensuring the family receives its full rights, condemned the actions of Hamas, and reassured that diplomatic efforts continue to have Hamas recognized as a terrorist organization globally. Cohen also highlighted that the state of Israel planted 18 trees in honor of Mollel’s memory. The tragic event accentuates the ruthlessness of the attack that indiscriminately targeted individuals, including children, women, the elderly, and foreign nationals in Israel for educational purposes.

Background:

Joshua Mollel, aged 22, arrived in Israel only three weeks prior to the October 7 attack, aiming to specialize in agriculture for the benefit of his home country. His aspirations were cut short when he and his colleague, Clemence Felix Mtenga, were tragically murdered.

Between the lines:

The ceremony and Cohen’s statements serve not only as a remembrance for Mollel but also as an amplified call to the international community for action against Hamas and their unlawful conduct. Israel is pushing for universal recognition of Hamas’s terrorist actions and for their operatives to be held accountable under the law.

What’s next:

Diplomatic endeavors persist as Israel reaches out across continents, striving for the broad acknowledgment of the need to counteract and penalize Hamas and similar groups internationally. The immediate focus remains the repatriation of Joshua Mollel’s remains to his grieving family for a deserved burial.

This story was first published on ynetnews.com.