No Kenyan casualty in Israel - PS Njogu

By Peter Ochieng 

Kenyans in Israel are safe, as the country's forces battle Palestinian Islamist group, Hamas within the Gaza Strip.

Diaspora Affairs Principal Secretary (PS) Roseline Njogu, on Wednesday said Kenyans are safe in the biblical nation, amid the battles.

She said no case of a Kenyan casualty has been reported, since the war started after Hamas launched attacks against Israel on Saturday.

“I am glad to report that there are no casualties among our people. All our people are accounted for," she said, as quoted by the Nation.

Njogu added that evacuation plans are in top gear.

"The government of Kenya continues to monitor the situation. We are in touch with our diaspora in that space and are maintaining contact through our Embassy (in Tel Aviv) on the ground. Plans are in place to evacuate as needed."

On Wednesday, Pope Francis appealed to the Palestinian militant group Hamas to release all hostages held in the wake of the group's terror attack on Israel, according to the Reuters.

More than 100 people, including an unknown number of Israeli forces and U.S. nationals, are believed to be held by Hamas, which slaughtered civilians across southern Israel during its Saturday morning attack.

Hundreds have died from both the Israel and Hamas fronts.

The pope condemned all acts of terrorism and said they would serve only to fuel hatred, violence and revenge.

CBC news reports that humanitarian groups have warned that Gaza City's main hospital is running at full capacity, and supplies are running out as Israel enforces a strict blockade of the Palestinian territory.

Israel has warned residents in multiple Gaza neighborhoods to evacuate, signalling coming airstrikes.